The United States is in the midst of an energy renaissance.
In 2013, the U.S. became the world’s top producer of petroleum and natural gas. U.S. refineries are taking full advantage of increasing U.S. crude oil and natural gas production. Petrochemical manufacturers are thriving as well, expanding existing capacity and building new plants to process increasing supplies.
Refiners and petrochemical manufacturers rely on complex supply chains to move oil, natural gas other feedstocks to their facilities and products to their customers.
Bringing the benefits of this increased energy production to U.S. consumers requires a “midstream infrastructure” — an integrated system of pipelines, ports and waterways, railroads, roadways and storage facilities that support moving America’s energy supplies from producer to consumer.
The United States has the largest network of energy pipelines in the world.
There are 76,000 miles of crude oil pipelines, 69,000 miles of natural gas liquid (NGL) pipelines and 62,000 miles of refined-product pipelines in operation in the United States. Pipelines are the primary mode for transporting refined products to distribution terminals serving consumer markets. Pipelines provide a safe, reliable, efficient and cost-effective way to move bulk liquids, particularly over long distances.
For this energy renaissance to continue, crucial new infrastructure investments are needed.
Our members are investing billions of dollars in the midstream sector, building, expanding and modernizing the energy infrastructure network. But this network is only as strong as its weakest link. Continued investment in highways, local roads and ports is needed by federal, state and local governments. Investments in pipelines, terminals and railroads are needed by private investors. Barriers and bureaucracies must be minimized in order to take full advantage of what increased energy production provides.