According to a recent report in OilPrice.com, 12 projects for new or expanded natural gas pipelines are scheduled to be completed in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma in 2026. The projects will boost capacity to transport natural gas in the Gulf Coast region by 13 percent. The report issued Nov. 23 said, “U.S. natural gas supply is rising, domestic and export demand is soaring, and the U.S. federal regulatory landscape has shifted dramatically in favor of new oil and gas infrastructure projects.”
Analysts at Wood Mackenzie said companies have committed $50 billion for new gas pipelines that will add 8,800 miles of new pipeline in the U.S.
And there’s a new model for the buildout. Wood Mackenzie said unlike in previous cycles of massive gas pipeline expansions, when producers led pipeline investment to reach demand markets, this time the buildout is being led by LNG exporters, utilities and data centers. “Pipeline development was the unsung hero connecting low-cost resources to markets,” Wood Mackenzie said. “Now we’re seeing a fundamental shift: demand pull from LNG exporters and power companies is driving new pipeline investment, moving away from the traditional producer-led model.”