According to Underground Infrastructure magazine, the North American pipeline construction outlook for 2024 reveals a strong focus on new LNG terminals that is driving parallel growth in greenfield pipeline projects.
Looking globally, nearly 42,000 miles of pipeline were under construction at the start of 2024 with another 80,557 miles in planning stages. This total of 122,552 miles worldwide amounts to a substantial 9.3 percent increase over 2023. Similarly, North America has experienced 9.5% year over year growth in pipeline projects, with 8,689 miles under construction and another 11,143 miles planned at the outset of 2024 for a total of 19,832 miles.
In the US, natural gas production growth in the Marcellus and Utica shale remains challenged by pipeline bottlenecks from the region. Several natural gas pipeline projects are in development to connect Haynesville gas producers to Gulf Coast LNG exporters, while Mexico is developing 31 mtpa of LNG export capacity on its west coast. This is welcome news for U.S. natural gas producers, who stand to gain easier access to Asian markets.
In Canada, First Nations are beginning to embrace the economic opportunities offered by pipeline and export projects, representing a significant change in the relationship between Canada’s Indigenous leadership and midstream projects.
Overall, the North American pipeline construction outlook for 2024 indicates a trend towards a growing demand for LNG, leading to an increase in pipeline projects across the continent.
Hifi’s High-fidelity Distributed Sensing (HDS) technology stands to play a pivotal role in this growing sector, with the proliferation of greenfield projects highlighting the continued need for accurate and reliable monitoring of this critical infrastructure. HDS provides real-time monitoring of pipelines, allowing for early detection of potential issues such as leaks or structural weaknesses that hold the potential for significant cost savings, improved safety, and reduced environmental impact.
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1moCongrats on securing the EPC contract for Port Arthur LNG Phase 2! It's exciting to see the collaboration with Bechtel moving forward. This project is a significant step in providing reliable, cleaner energy globally. Well done, Sempra Infrastructure team!