How to fix Pipeline Overextended in Factorio Space Age

The release of the Factorio: Space Age expansion has added a ton of new systems to the factory building sim, but has also change some existing systems including how pipes and fluids are handled. Under the new system, it’s very common for a new pipe issue to arise that is caused by your pipeline being overextended. We’ve figured out how to fix the Pipeline Overextended issue in Factorio Space Age.

Screenshot by Destructoid

What to do when your Pipeline is Overextended

The best way to fix the Pipeline Overextended issue in Factorio Space Age is to either add a Pump to your pipeline, or use better quality pipes for your longer pipelines. While Factorio 1.0 allowed you to build very long pipelines with only potential decreases in throughput, in Factorio Space Age 2.0 the fluid system has been completely reworked, and you’ll now need to keep your pipelines more condensed or make use of Pumps.

With the new system, the single point in which you begin pumping the fluid—either through a pump or whatever source is creating the fluid like the Offshore Pump or a Pumpjack—a 320×320-tile region is generated around the source. Within this 320×320 tile region, fluids will be able to travel around without issues. However, to expand beyond that 320×320 tile region you will need to place and power an additional Pump. Doing so will create another 320×320 tile region around that Pump, essentially extending the area in which you can successfully pump fluids into your pipeline.

In order to build a Pump, you need to first research Fluid Handling. The Fluid Handling Research requires 50 Automation Science Packs (Red) and 50 Logistic Science Packs (Green). You’ll also need two pre-requisite researches, Engine and Automation 2. Finally, each Pump you build will require 1 Steel Plate, 1 Engine Unit, and 1 Pipe to make the Pump.

It’s important to keep in mind that you have to also power the Pump. This can be super frustrating because typically if you’re running a pipeline over a vast distance it’s for ease of use, but you’ll still need to make sure you’re running power lines alongside the pipeline to power each Pump you place. Just make sure you’re adding another pump every 320 tiles to keep the chain of successfully Pumps going in your pipeline.

Another way to handle Overextended Pipelines

While adding Pumps to your pipeline is an option, it can also be a headache. Probably the more intended long-distance fluid handling option by developer Wube Software is to make use of Trains. Once you’ve researched Fluid Handling and Railways, you’ll be able to research the Fluid Wagon for 200 Automation Science Packs (Red) and 200 Logistic Science Packs (Green).

Once researched, here are the resources you’ll need to build each Fluid Wagon:

• 16x Steel Plate
• 10x Iron Gear Wheel
• 1x Storage Tank
• 8x Pipes

After creating your rail system and connecting a Fluid Wagon to your train, you’ll simply need pumps at the loading and unloading stations for your fluids. Make sure the Pumps are lined up with where your Fluid Wagons will be, and powered via Power Poles. From here, your pumps will pump the fluids into the Fluid Wagons while they are at the station, and pump them out when at the unloading station. From here, you can use Storage Tanks to properly store the fluids until you are ready to make use of them again.

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