Primary mode of inland crude oil transport to refineries\nCrude oil is transported from oil fields to inland refineries mainly by ______.

Introduction / Context:
Moving large volumes of crude reliably and economically is essential for refinery supply. Multiple transport modes exist, but only one scales efficiently for continuous, inland movement.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Typical refinery throughput is thousands to hundreds of thousands of barrels per day.
• Continuous, year-round transport is required.

Concept / Approach:
Pipelines offer the lowest unit transport cost and highest reliability for bulk crude overland. They minimize handling losses, reduce traffic and safety risk, and allow continuous flow directly into tank farms. Road and rail tankers are used for short hauls, niche routes, or product distribution rather than main crude supply. Barges are important where waterways exist but are not “inland” mainstay in many networks.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
National pipeline grids and cross-country pipelines (crude trunk lines) form the backbone of refinery supply chains worldwide.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Road/rail cannot economically match continuous high-volume crude flow.
• “None” is incorrect because pipelines clearly dominate.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing crude transport with refined product distribution, where multi-modal options are more common.

Final Answer:
Underground pipelines