The world’s energy industry is virtually recession-proof relative to the rest of the global economy. International pipeline maps show that natural gas, oil or LNG resources areas and markets are widely and plentiful distributed around the globe. Gas pipeline maps and graphs prove that it has been a considerable increase in the consumption of gas in the past three decades, on a market where gas accounts for almost a quarter of world’s energy consumption.

Estimates of world’s resources of natural gas, oil or LNG continue to grow as a result of innovations in exploration and extraction techniques. Currently, energy industry takes advantage of the latest technology and IT breakthrough, modern equipments and know-how, GIS and GPS systems, satellite pictures or aerial photography. Due to these efficient methods, technical drawings and pipeline maps attained a higher degree of accuracy from a technical and geographical point of view, combined with a pertinent visual interpretation. This is the unique approach of Rextag Strategies, a company specialized in graphic design for mapping products, such as oil and gas pipeline maps or LNG pipeline maps, to mention only a some of the services made available.

But what is unique with Rextag Strategies is the way they combine the latest GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping potential with graphic design-marketing visuals in order to bring your projects to life and pipeline maps on your desks. This “joint-venture� between GIS systems with vector or raster geodatabases, graphic design and cartographic principles has one purpose and one purpose only: to create powerful and informative maps and graphs, in general for better decision making, concept development, feasibility studies, internal board approvals and sponsorships or preliminary engineering and biding, and in particular for energy industry, for instance, gas pipeline maps or LNG sites locations.

Pipeline maps rely on regular GIS maps, whose accuracy goes beyond any doubt. But GIS unmodified maps are ineffective during projects presentation sessions or in specific situation on the grounds. They lack the visual interpretation part, which is essential for a quick all-inclusive comprehension especially for the novices of pipeline maps management. GIS integrated maps are able to represent and analyze a wide range of datasets to help making a better decision, especially in new projects development. GIS integrated maps are valuable in evaluating the terrain’s topography, river crossings, types of soil, vegetation or urban density and in identifying environmental sensitive areas where construction will not be viable or will require extensive permits, such as architectural sites or burial sites protected by law. A gas pipeline map would represent all pipelines in the area subject of interest to determine possible interconnection opportunities. In the end, a GIS integrated pipeline map is a computer generated line-of-sight with relevant visual impacts.

GIS integrated gas pipeline maps are largely used by pipeline operation groups in United States and Canada, such as Colorado Interstate Gas, Florida Gas Transmission, Gulf South Pipeline, Transcontinental Pipeline or TransCanada Pipeline. Such maps operate as maintenance tools for an accurate and up-to-the-minute monitoring of pipeline corridors. A gas pipeline map by regional markets is most important for international trade purposes showing the main exporting areas by pipeline – which are North America, Western Europe and former Soviet Union – as well as the main importing areas by pipeline – Europe and, of course, United States, which took hold of all Canadian exports.

The countries of Europe and North America represent a mature not segregated market for natural gas, having well defined pipeline maps of distribution systems. Asian Pacific or Latin-American markets are also market on the global gas pipeline map as regional markets with an emergent importance, while the Middle East is the first and foremost supplier.