(P&GJ) – Four new petroleum liquids pipelines, including three crude oil projects and one hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGL) pipeline, have been completed in the U.S. since 2023, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA).
No new petroleum product pipelines – those carrying gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel – have been completed during this time.
Here are the completed projects based on updated Liquids Pipeline Projects Database:
South Bend Pipeline: A 150,000-bpd crude oil pipeline built by Bridger Pipeline, LLC. The 137-mile pipeline runs from Johnsons Corner, North Dakota, to Baker, Montana, and was completed in 2023.
Keystone Port Neches Link: A 630,000-bpd pipeline developed by Port Neches Link, LLC, a joint venture between TC Energy and Motiva Enterprises. It extends 5 miles from the Sunoco Logistics terminal in Nederland, Texas, to Motiva’s terminal in Port Neches, Texas, and was completed in 2023.
Borger Express Pipeline: A 90,000-bpd crude oil pipeline developed by Navigator Energy Service. The 195-mile line runs from Major County, Oklahoma, to Hutchinson County, Texas, and was also completed in 2023.
Seminole Red Pipeline: Originally an HGL pipeline that was converted to crude oil in 2019, it was converted back to an HGL line by Enterprise Products Partners. The conversion was completed in 2024 as part of a broader effort to service the Permian Basin.
According to the EIA, four new petroleum liquids pipelines have been completed in the United States since 2023.
This information indicates that there has been some expansion of petroleum pipeline infrastructure in the country over the past year, though the number of completed projects is relatively modest.
Existing capacity shows about 50% of current oil pipeline capacity is unused, reducing the immediate need for new pipelines, the data shows.
Environmental regulations: Stricter environmental policies have made obtaining permits for new pipeline construction more challenging and expensive.
Meanwhile, there has been increased attention on maintaining and upgrading existing pipelines rather than building new ones
Despite the slowdown in new construction, the United States still maintains an extensive petroleum pipeline network. As of 2020, there were 182 oil pipelines either active or under construction in the country, with 160 of these being active. P&GJ