HomeNewsU.S. natural gas pipeline project completions increase takeaway capacity in producing regions

U.S. natural gas pipeline project completions increase takeaway capacity in producing regions

3/17/2025

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), natural gas pipeline projects completed in 2024 increased takeaway capacity by approximately 6.5 Bft3d in key production regions, including Appalachia, Haynesville, the Permian Basin, and the Eagle Ford.

These pipelines deliver natural gas from the producing regions to demand centers in the mid-Atlantic and along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Major pipeline expansions in 2024

The following projects accounted for significant increases in pipeline capacity:

Mountain Valley Pipeline (Pipeline Route and Information: For an overview of this project and other related infrastructure developments, visit Global Energy Infrastructure.)

  • Mountain Valley Pipeline – Operated by Equitrans Midstream Corporation, this pipeline can transport up to 2 Bft3d of natural gas from Wetzel, West Virginia, to an interconnect with the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line (Transco) in Pittsylvania, Virginia.
  • Regional Energy Access Project – Transco’s expansion project added more than 800 MMft3d of capacity, enhancing natural gas flow between Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and Middlesex County, New Jersey.
  • Louisiana Energy Access Project (LEAP) Phase 3 – DT Midstream’s LEAP Phase 3 expansion increased the pipeline’s capacity by 200 MMft3d, bringing total transport capability to 1.9 Bft3d from the Haynesville region to Gulf Coast markets via interconnections at the Gillis Hub near Ragley, Louisiana.
  • Matterhorn Express Pipeline – Operated by Whitewater Midstream, this project delivers up to 2.5 Bft3d of natural gas from the Permian Basin to the Katy, Texas, area.
  • Verde Pipeline – Pecan Pipeline Company’s Verde Pipeline enables the transportation of up to 1 Bft3d of EOG Resources’ natural gas production from Webb County, Texas, in the Eagle Ford region to the Agua Dulce Hub in South Texas.

Pipeline expansions supporting LNG exports

In addition to increased takeaway capacity from production regions, five major projects completed in Texas and Louisiana in 2024 added 8.5 Bft3d of capacity to support liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals.

  • ADCC Pipeline – Whitewater Midstream’s 1.7-Bft3d pipeline supplies the Corpus Christi Stage 3 LNG project, which is co-located with the existing Corpus Christi LNG terminal in South Texas.
  • Gillis Access – TC Energy’s 1.5-Bft3d project connects pipelines at the Gillis Hub, facilitating the movement of Haynesville natural gas to LNG export facilities along the Gulf Coast.
  • Gator Express Phases 1 & 2 – Venture Global’s Gator Express Pipeline consists of two pipeline segments, each capable of transporting 2 Bft3d of natural gas to the Plaquemines LNG export terminal, located approximately 20 mi south of New Orleans, Louisiana.
  • Venice Extension Project – Texas Eastern Transmission’s expansion adds 1.3 Bft3d of capacity to supply the Plaquemines LNG export facility.

Additional capacity additions

Several smaller interstate and intrastate pipeline projects, each adding less than 800 MMft3d of capacity, collectively contributed nearly 3 Bft3d of additional capacity in 2024.

According to the EIA, interstate pipeline expansions outpaced intrastate additions, with total capacity additions surpassing the previous year’s levels for the second consecutive year. Interstate pipelines include those crossing state borders and those serving export demand, including at LNG export terminals, while intrastate pipelines operate within a single state’s borders.

With 17.8 Bft3d of total new capacity in 2024, the latest pipeline expansions reflect continued investment in U.S. natural gas infrastructure to meet rising domestic and export demand.

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