U.S. Natural Gas Pipeline Capacity Additions: Up to 45 BCF/Day of New Capacity Planned Through 2027, Biggest Buildout since 2008

     The increase in natural gas demand from increasing LNG exports, data centers, and electrification is also increasing demand for pipelines, as buildout is expected to grow through 2027. 

     Below is an EIA graph of annual pipeline capacity additions from 2020-2024 with both interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines delineated. That is followed by a graph I made for total non-delineated natural gas, with 2025 and estimates for 2026 and 2027 added in. In 2025, the vast majority of pipeline capacity additions were in the South-Central states, including Texas. In 2026 and 2027, new pipeline builds in Texas are expected to dominate at over 66%.

     About 70% of that new capacity, or 31.6 BCF, is already under construction, according to a June 13 article in Energies Media. The majority of the Texas projects will move natural gas out of the Permian Basin. Much will flow to LNG terminals, some to industrial customers, including data centers, and some to natural gas power plants and their residential and commercial power customers, as well as natural gas heat. Louisiana will also get new pipelines (19%, 8.4 BCF/day), followed next by Virginia, which will get 1.6 BCF/day of new capacity through Williams’s Southeast Supply Enhancement Project. The Louisiana projects likely better connect Haynesville gas to LNG terminals along the Gulf Coast. Gas deliveries to Virginia will come from the Appalachian region.

     According to a January 2026 article in Natural Gas Intelligence, the 2026 buildout is expected to be 18-22 BCF/day, which would be the highest buildout since 2008, when 31 BCF/day of natural gas pipeline capacity was added.

References:

 

U.S. plans 44.9 Bcf/d of new natural gas pipeline capacity in 2026–2027, with Texas accounting for over two-thirds of additions. Carlos Albero Rojas. Energies Media. June 13, 2026. U.S. plans 44.9 Bcf/d of new natural gas pipeline capacity in 2026–2027, with Texas accounting for over two-thirds of additions

U.S. Natural Gas Pipeline Capacity Set for Biggest Buildout Since 2008. Chris Newman. Natural Gas Intelligence. January 20, 2026. U.S. Natural Gas Pipeline Capacity Set for Biggest Buildout Since 2008

Natural gas pipeline project completions increase takeaway capacity in producing regions. EIA. March 17, 2025. Natural gas pipeline project completions increase takeaway capacity in producing regions - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

Most natural gas pipelines built in 2025 connect the South Central United States to supply. EIA. February 25, 2026. Most natural gas pipelines built in 2025 connect the South Central United States to supply - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)