Like any long-lived asset, oil pipelines must be managed and maintained. The ultimate goal is zero accidents, so each operator’s entire asset portfolio must be diligently managed to achieve this goal. A variety of factors go into an operator’s choice of tools to use in inspecting and maintaining its pipeline, including the type of pipe, its construction and its service history. In the end, however, what the public, the regulators and the operators care about is performance: did the oil stay in the pipe? Over the last 10-12 years, the industry has improved its performance impressively across the board.