Natural Gas Pipeline Projects Concluded During 2024 Increase Takeaway Capacity: EIA

Natural gas pipelines completed during 2024 increased U.S. takeaway capacity by around 6.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), according to a March 17 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Takeaway capacity refers to the maximum amount of gas a pipeline can transport away from a production area or storage facility on a daily basis.

The U.S. produced a record 103.2 bcf/d of gas and consumed a record 90.4 bcf/d of the fuel in 2024.The agency also reported that total pipeline capacity additions surpassed the previous year’s additions for a consecutive year.

The completed pipelines transport gas from the U.S. natural gas producing Permian, Appalachia, Eagle ford and Haynesville regions to demand centers. A number of projects have been completed, including the Mountain Valley Pipeline project, which spans around 303 miles from northwestern West Virginia to southern Virginia. The pipeline has the capacity to transport 2.0 Bcf/d. The Regional Energy Access Project increased capacity by around 0.8 Bcf/d along Transco’s existing natural gas transmission system, which expands from the Marcellus Shale basin in northeastern Pennsylvania to multiple delivery points in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland.

Furthermore, DT Midstream’s Louisiana Energy Access Project, or LEAP, Phase 3 project lengthened the prevailing LEAP pipeline by 0.2 Bcf/d. LEAP can carry 1.9 Bcf/d of gas from the Haynesville area to Gulf Coast markets. The Matterhorn Express Pipeline is an approximately 580-mile intrastate pipeline designed to transport 2.5 Bcf/d of gas from the Permian Basin to Texas. The Verde Pipeline is capable of transporting 1 Bcf/d of gas from the Eagle Ford producing region to the Agua Dulce hub.

An additional five pipeline projects finalized during 2024 in Louisiana and Texas elevated capacity to transport gas to liquefied natural gas export terminals by around 8.5 Bcf/d. The completed projects include the ADCC pipeline, Gillis pipeline, Gator Express pipeline and the Venice Extension project.