In-brief analysis
October 21, 2024
Since the dawn of 2023, a remarkable surge has emerged in the sphere of pipeline construction across the United States, with four significant petroleum liquids pipeline endeavors reaching completion—a triumvirate of crude oil conduits and a singular hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGL) artery, as unveiled by our latest iteration of the Liquids Pipeline Projects Database. Intriguingly, the realm of petroleum product pipelines—those essential carriers of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and various refinery outputs—remained dormant, with no new additions gracing the landscape during this period.
The completed projects are as follows:
- South Bend Pipeline—a formidable 150,000-barrel-per-day (b/d) leviathan—crafted by Bridger Pipeline, LLC, shuttling crude oil across a rugged expanse of approximately 137 miles from Johnsons Corner, North Dakota, to the burgeoning hub of Baker, Montana. This project, a marvel of engineering, was successfully finalized in 2023.
- Keystone Port Neches Link—a staggering 630,000-b/d pipeline born of the collaboration between TC Energy and Motiva Enterprises through their joint vehicle, Port Neches Link, snakes its way from the Sunoco Logistics terminal in Nederland to Motiva’s terminal in Port Neches, Texas, spanning a mere five miles. Completed in 2023, this pipeline features a robust 30-inch diameter section and a substantial 36-inch diameter section, affirming its capacity.
- Borger Express Pipeline is an impressive 90,000-b/d conduit constructed by Navigator Energy Service, deftly transporting crude oil approximately 195 miles from the heart of Major County, Oklahoma, to the industrial expanse of Hutchinson County, Texas. This project also reached its completion in 2023.
- Seminole Red Pipeline, a phoenix rising from the ashes, underwent a metamorphosis as Enterprise Products Partners converted it back from crude oil service to its original identity as an HGL pipeline, a strategic move executed while the Bahia Pipeline, another HGL project poised to service the ever-demanding Permian Basin, takes shape. Originally an HGL pipeline before its transformation into a 210,000-b/d crude oil artery in 2019, this conversion was finalized in 2024, breathing new life into its capabilities.
Our robust Liquids Pipeline Projects Database houses a vast repository of information concerning projects in varying stages of development. Presently, there are 9 announced projects and 10 under construction. Since the inception of our database in 2010, an impressive total of 231 projects have been brought to fruition, though 17 have faced the unfortunate fate of permanent cancellation.
The Liquids Pipeline Projects Database serves as a comprehensive archive for over 270 future, ongoing, and historical liquids pipeline projects across the United States. These conduits facilitate the transit of crude oil, HGL, and a plethora of petroleum products, and our database meticulously catalogues project types, initiation dates, capacities, mileage, geographic details, and current statuses. We diligently track expansions, reversals, conversions, and new projects alike.
It is crucial to note that some projects are intricately linked, often transporting similar fuels to their ultimate destinations. Consequently, aggregating the cumulative capacity of all projects might lead to an overestimation or the double-counting of certain pipeline capacities—a nuance that should be respected.
The Liquids Pipeline Projects Database complements our natural gas pipeline projects database, as we continuously strive to refine our offerings. Updating occurs biannually, based on the most credible information sourced from pipeline company web pages, pertinent trade press articles, and government documentation—such as U.S. Department of State permits related to border crossings. It’s essential to understand that the data reflects current reported plans and does not necessarily imply our predictions regarding the probability or timing of project completions.
Principal contributor: Jim O’Sullivan