The purpose of Linewatch is to promote greater awareness of buried oil pipelines and the safety precautions that are required when working near to them, therefore protecting personnel and the environment.

Linewatch is a joint initiative between Esso Petroleum Co Ltd, Mainline Pipelines Ltd, BPA, TotalFinaElf, Conoco, The Oil and Pipelines Agency (Government Pipelines and Storage System) and Manchester Jetline Ltd. Between them, the seven participants account for some 4,440 km of buried oil pipelines in England, Wales and Scotland.