Global Pipeline Projects Advance LNG, Gas Gathering, and Carbon Storage Infrastructure
Energy Transfer’s Lake Charles LNG Project Wins Export Extension
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) granted Energy Transfer’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Lake Charles, Louisiana, additional time to begin exports of LNG to non-free trade agreement countries. The order, signed by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, amends the project’s authorization and allows more time for the project to begin exports. Once complete, the Louisiana facility will have the capacity to ship up to 2.33 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas as LNG.
Tala Goudarzi, principal deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, said the extension reflects the administration’s broader priorities. “Granting this commencement extension furthers the Trump Administration’s priority of unleashing American energy, a radical shift from the last administration, whose actions undermined the progress of Lake Charles LNG for years,” she said.
Originally developed as an LNG import terminal, Lake Charles LNG is being converted into an export facility. The project recently secured long-term offtake agreements with Chevron and Kyushu Electric Power Company.
The U.S. is the world’s top LNG exporter, with eight large-scale projects in operation and several more in development. The DOE said approvals under the current administration cover more than 13.8 Bcf/d of LNG export capacity, exceeding volumes shipped by the world’s second-largest exporter.
Harvest Midstream to Acquire 1,500 Miles of MPLX Pipelines
Harvest Midstream has agreed to acquire MPLX LP’s natural gas gathering and processing systems in the Uinta and Green River basins for $1 billion, marking one of the largest midstream transactions of the year.
The deal, expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, will give Houston-based Harvest more than 1,500 miles of pipelines and nearly 850 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of gas processing capacity across Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado.
In the Uinta Basin, the acquisition includes about 700 miles of gas gathering pipelines and 345 MMcf/d of processing capacity at the Ironhorse and Stagecoach plants. In Wyoming’s Green River Basin, the assets include roughly 800 miles of gathering and transportation pipelines, 500 MMcf/d of processing capacity from the Blacks Fork and Vermilion facilities, and a 10,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) fractionator.
“This acquisition is the beginning of the next chapter of Harvest’s ambitious and disciplined growth story,” said CEO Jason C. Rebrook. “We are executing on a long-term vision to build a scaled, resilient midstream network capable of supporting America’s energy needs for decades to come, and these premier MPLX assets fit squarely into that strategy.”
Following the transaction, Harvest will take operational control of the systems and continue servicing existing customers. The company said the purchase significantly broadens its geographic reach and positions it for future organic and acquisition-driven growth.
Texas LNG Project Receives FERC Construction Approval Ahead of Schedule
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has reissued its final order authorizing the construction and operation of Glenfarne’s Texas LNG project, approving the project’s construction schedule.
The order, issued in August 2025, came three months ahead of FERC’s original release timeline. Alongside the authorization, FERC approved a construction schedule that aims to complete the facility by November 2029.
Texas LNG is being developed by Texas LNG Brownsville, LLC, an affiliate of Glenfarne Group. The company is aiming to reach a final investment decision (FID) by the end of 2025 and has secured sufficient customer offtake commitments to support that milestone.
“Texas LNG is rapidly advancing toward a targeted year-end FID, and the reissued FERC authorization, finalized three months ahead of schedule, greatly accelerates our momentum through the second half of the year,” said Glenfarne CEO Brendan Duval.
The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of the facility will be led by Houston-based Kiewit under a lump-sum turnkey structured agreement. Texas LNG is planned as an export terminal at the Port of Brownsville in Texas. It is part of Glenfarne’s 32.8 million metric tons per year (MMtpy) LNG portfolio, which also includes the Alaska LNG and Magnolia LNG projects.
PetroChina to Acquire CNPC Gas Storage Facilities in $5.6 Billion Deal
PetroChina is expected to gain control of three natural gas storage facilities from its controlling shareholder, state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), in a deal worth $5.59 billion.
The move is expected to add 10.97 billion cubic meters (Bcm) of working gas storage capacity to the company’s portfolio. PetroChina reported a 5.4% decline in net income for the first half of 2025, but also showed $2.6 billion in earnings, according to Reuters.
The deal comes as PetroChina looks to ensure stable operation and high-quality development of its natural gas industrial chain. PetroChina expects Chinese oil demand to continue facing competition from alternative energy; however, it projects natural gas demand to recover and grow rapidly.
Alliance Cloud, SEMCO Plan Gas Pipelines for Michigan Data Center
Alliance Cloud Services, a subsidiary of Hyperscale Data, signed an agreement with SEMCO Energy Gas Company to begin designing new natural gas infrastructure for its Michigan data center. The two companies plan to advance to construction in late 2025.
SEMCO will handle engineering and design work for pipeline routing, metering equipment, and related facilities to expand natural gas distribution to the site. The project would support about 40 megawatts (MW) of additional onsite power generation. The companies expect to negotiate a construction and operations agreement in the coming months. Once approved, construction is expected to take about 15 months.
Norway’s Northern Lights Carbon Capture and Storage Project Reports First CO₂ Injections
The Northern Lights project has begun operations, injecting its first carbon dioxide (CO₂) volumes into a reservoir 8,350 feet (2,600 meters) beneath the North Sea seabed. The facility is the world’s first third-party CO₂ transport and storage project, developed to cut European greenhouse gas emissions.
CO₂ shipments arrive by ship from Heidelberg Materials’ cement plant in Brevik, Norway, before being transferred through a 62-mile (100-km) pipeline and injected into the Aurora reservoir.
“This demonstrates the viability of carbon capture, transport, and storage as a scalable industry,” said Equinor CEO Anders Opedal. “With the support from the Norwegian government and in close collaboration with our partners, we have successfully transformed this project from concept to reality.”
Northern Lights is an equally owned venture by Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies. Equinor, serving as technical service provider, built the Øygarden facility and offshore infrastructure and will manage operations. Phase one of the project has capacity for 1.5 million metric tons per year (MMtpy) of CO₂, all of which is fully booked. A second phase is underway to expand capacity to at least 5 MMtpy, supported by EU Connecting Europe Facility funding and a contract with Stockholm Exergi for 900,000 tpy. Construction includes new storage tanks, a jetty, and additional injection wells.
Enterprise Closes Purchase of Occidental Gas Gathering System
Enterprise Products Partners has closed its acquisition of Occidental Petroleum’s natural gas gathering affiliate in the Permian Basin for $580 million. The deal includes natural gas gathering systems in the Midland Basin and about 200 miles of pipelines supporting Occidental’s production in the region. Enterprise said the acquisition expands its footprint in the basin and provides long-term development visibility with access to more than 1,000 drillable locations.
“By acquiring these gathering systems, we are enhancing our ability to support Midland Basin production and strengthen our natural gas value chain in the Permian,” Enterprise said in a statement.
The transaction was completed on a debt-free basis. Troutman Pepper Locke and Sidley Austin LLP advised Enterprise, while Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and White & Case LLP advised Occidental.