Columbia Gas Transmission
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Columbia Gas Transmission is an operating system of natural gas pipelines in the United States.[1]
Location
The pipeline runs from points in the Midwest and Southeast to New York.[1]
■ Operating ■ Shelved
Project details
Main Line
- Operator: Columbia Gas Transmission
- Owner: TC Energy[1]
- Current capacity: 3 Billion cubic feet per day[2]
- Proposed capacity:
- Length: 12,000 miles / 19,312 km[1]
- Status: Operating[1]
- Start Year: 1996[1]
East Lateral Xpress Project
- Operator: Columbia Gas Transmission[3]
- Owner: TC Energy[1]
- Capacity: 183 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d)[3]
- Length: 8 miles / 12.9 kilometers[3]
- Diameter: 30-inches[3]
- Cost: US$364 million[3]
- Status: Operating[3]
- Start Year: 2025[3]
Marysville Connector Pipeline
- Operator: Columbia Gas of Ohio[4]
- Owner: TC Energy[1]
- Capacity:
- Length: 2.18 miles / 3.5 kilometers[3]
- Diameter: 12 in[3]
- Cost: US$28 million[3]
- Status: Shelved[5]
- Start Year: 2023[3]
Virginia Expansion Project
- Operator: Columbia Gas Transmission[6]
- Owner: TC Energy[1]
- Capacity: 45 million cubic feet per day[6]
- Length: 0 new kilometers[6]
- Status: Operating[6]
- Start Year: 2018[6]
Louisiana XPress Expansion Project
- Operator: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[6]
- Owner: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[6]
- Parent company: TC Energy[1]
- Capacity: 493 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d)[6]
- Length: 0 new miles of pipeline
- Cost: US$472 million[6]
- Status: Construction[7]
- Start year: 2022[7]
Virginia Electrification Project
- Operator: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[6]
- Owner: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[6]
- Parent company: TC Energy[7][8]
- Capacity: 350 MMcf/d[7]
- Length: 0 new mi[7]
- Diameter:
- Status: Proposed[7][8]
- Start year: 2022[7]
- Cost: 143 million USD[7]
- Financing:
- Associated infrastructure:
Northern Loop Project
- Operator: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[6]
- Owner: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[6]
- Parent company: TC Energy[7][8]
- Capacity:
- Length: 14 mi[7]
- Diameter: 24 in[7]
- Status: Shelved[7] (as of 2025, EIA status is Approved/On hold)
- Start year: 2023[7]
- Cost: 105 million USD[7]
- Financing:
- Associated infrastructure:
Eastern Panhandle Expansion Project
This expansion project is part of the Mountaineer Gas Pipeline. See there for project details.
Mainline 100 and Mainline 200 Replacement Project
- Operator: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[6]
- Owner: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[6]
- Parent company: TC Energy[7]
- Capacity:
- Length: 0.5 mi[7]
- Diameter: 30 in[7]
- Status: Proposed[7]
- Start year: 2023[7]
- Cost: 105 million USD[7]
- Financing:
- Associated infrastructure:
East Side Expansion Project
- Owner: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[9]
- Capacity: 312,000 Dth/d[9]
- Length: 19.1 mi[9][10]
- Diameter: 20, 26 in[9]
- Status: Operating[10]
- Cost: US$269,000,000[10]
Hardy Storage Project
- Owner: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC
- Capacity: 175 MMcf/d[10]
- Length: 33.5 mi[10][11]
- Diameter: 24 in[10][11]
- Status: Operating[10]
- Start year: 2007[10]
- Cost: US$55,000,000[10]
Line 1278 Replacement Project
- Owner: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[12]
- Length: 43.4 mi[12][13]
- Diameter: 20 in[12][13]
- Status: Operating[10]
- Start year: 2006[10]
Line MB Extension Project
- Owner: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[14]
- Length: 21.1 mi[14][10]
- Diameter: 26 in[14][10]
- Status: Operating[10]
- Cost: US$132,000,000[10]
NKY Gate Enhancement Project
- Owner: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[15]
- Length: 30.2 mi[16][10]
- Diameter: 36 in[15][10]
- Status: Proposed[16][10]
Virginia Reliability Project
- Owner: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[17]
- Capacity: 100 MMcf/d[10]
- Length: 49 mi[10][17]
- Diameter: 24 in[10][17]
- Status: Operating[10]
- Start year: 2025[10]
- Cost: US$500,000,000[10]
Appalachia Supply Project
- Operator: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[18][19]
- Owner: Columbia Gas Transmission LLC[18][19]
- Capacity: 800 MMcf/d[18][19]
- Status: Proposed[20][18][19]
- Start year: 2030[18][19]
- Cost: US$1,500,000,000[18][19]
Background
Main Line
Columbia Gas Transmission is owned and operated by TC Energy.[21] It was acquired by TC Energy as part of its $13 billion purchase of the Columbia Pipeline group in 2016.[22] The acquisition came after TC Energy's 2015 failure to win approval for its proposed Keystone XL Pipeline, and TC Energy's CEO Russ Girling stressed the company's desire to increase its capacity to carry gas from the lucrative Marcellus and Utica Shale regions.[23]
In July 2023, a section of the pipeline in western Virginia exploded, prompting a temporary localized shutdown.[24]
In July 2023, TC Energy announced that it will divest a 40% interest in its Columbia Gas Transmission and Columbia Gulf Transmission pipelines for US$5.2 billion to Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). The transaction is expected to close in fourth quarter 2023.[25][26]
East Lateral Xpress Project
The expansion will provide additional transportation services on Columbia Gulf’s East Lateral from Columbia Gulf’s Onshore Pool (CGT-Rayne) and the Venice Meter Station to a new delivery point with the Gator Express Gas Pipeline in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.[3]
As of September 2020, developers had already applied for project approval with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).[3]
It was completed in 2025.[3]
Marysville Connector Pipeline
Proposed in 2019, the expansion would supply additional gas to the Marysville, Ohio area by running a line from Dublin, Ohio to Marysville, Ohio. Developers received project approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in August 2020.[3]
Facing legal issues over land rights, Columbia Gas requested a 3 year extension to the approval expiration date, which would have been August 2023. The request was granted in June 2023.[5]
No update on the project has been released since, and it is considered shelved as of 2025.
Virginia Expansion Project
The expansion project is in Virginia. It is a capacity expansion only, with no additional kilometers added.[6]
Louisiana XPress Expansion Project
Columbia Gulf Transmission applied for an expansion in 2019 called the Louisiana XPress Project. The expansion would cost US$472 million and add 493 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of natural gas transportation capacity. The expansion would effect Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. It does not include adding any additional miles of pipeline.[6]
In August 2020 it was reported that Columbia Gulf Transmission was pressing the U.S. Federal Energy Regulator Commission (FERC) to fast-track authorization of the Louisiana XPress Project which already received a favorable environmental assessment from FERC in February 2020. The promoters of the project, which will mainly provide additional supply into Cheniere Energy’s operating Sabine Pass LNG Terminal in Louisiana's Cameron Parish, are pushing to begin construction of the project in September 2020 to avoid the rainy season in order to meet their intended February 2022 in-service target date.[27]
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, as of April 2021 the project was under-construction.[7] As of January 2022, part of the project was complete[7], but the TC Energy website still identified the project as in development.[8]
Virginia Electrification Project
The Virginia Electrification Project involves the modification of various compressor stations to increase capacity to Columbia Gas Transmission LLC's Market Area 33 and Market Area 34 in southeast Virginia, United States.
Northern Loop Project
The Northern Loop Project involves abandoning in-place pipeline and replacing a 14-mile segment in Ohio, according to a mapped route available in the application materials on the developer's website.[28] The EIA notes the route would also run in Pennsylvania, but there is no evidence for this elsewhere.[7] The project is considered to be shelved as of 2025.[7]
Eastern Panhandle Expansion Project
This expansion project is part of the Mountaineer Gas Pipeline.
Mainline 100 and Mainline 200 Replacement Project
This involves replacement of lines serving the area south of the Means Measuring station in Kentucky, United States, which has experienced increased population density.
East Side Expansion Project
The project added about 19.1 miles of 20-inch and 26-inch loop plus aboveground facilities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Maryland. It was designed to provide 312,000 Dth/d of firm service to growing mid-Atlantic markets.[9]
The project was completed in October 2015 at a reported cost of $269 million.[10]
Hardy Storage Project
Columbia proposed the loops as part of the Hardy Storage Project with Hardy Storage Company LLC. That project would also add storage wells, well lines and a compressor station in West Virginia.[11]
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff environmental assessment of August 2005 covered three new 24-inch loops totaling about 30.2 miles in Shenandoah, Rockingham, Page and Greene counties, Virginia. It also covered a 2.6-mile 14-inch loop in Louisa County.[11]
The project was completed in April 2007 at a reported cost of $55 million.[10]
Line 1278 Replacement Project
Columbia was under a U.S. Department of Transportation mandate to replace deteriorated sections of the line. The project would abandon 43.4 miles of 14-inch pipe and replace it with 20-inch pipe, mostly in the existing right-of-way.[29]
The work was to be done in two phases, in 2005 and 2006. It would not increase deliverable volumes.[29]
The project was completed in November 2006.[10]
Line MB Extension Project
The project was completed on October 28, 2014 at a reported cost of $132 million.[10]
NKY Gate Enhancement Project
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff issued an environmental assessment on August 5, 2026 under docket CP26-19. It covers about 30.2 miles of new pipeline, of which 24.62 miles is 36-inch pipe, and about 48.5 miles of existing pipe would be abandoned.[16]
The stated purpose is to replace vintage 1950s pipe for safety, integrity and reliability. Comments on the assessment were due August 31, 2026.[16]
A TC Energy fact sheet said the company intended to file with the commission in November 2025. It said construction was expected to start in the first quarter of 2027, with service in the fourth quarter of 2027.[15]
Virginia Reliability Project
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the project, according to a TC Energy statement of November 17, 2023. About 48 miles of 1950s 12-inch pipe would be replaced with 24-inch pipe. Construction was expected to begin by the second quarter of 2024, with service projected for November 1, 2025.[17]
TC Energy began construction in July 2024. Local environmental groups opposed the project.[30]
Appalachia Supply Project
TC Energy announced the Appalachia Supply Project in its first quarter 2026 results, released on May 1, 2026. The project expands the Columbia Gas system and is designed to provide up to 0.8 Bcf/d of capacity for new gas-fired power generation.[18] The company estimated the cost at about US$1.5 billion and gave an anticipated in-service date of 2030.[18] Oil & Gas Journal reported in May 2026 that the project is backed by a 20-year take-or-pay contract with an investment-grade utility. It said the project can be expanded to 2 Bcf/d with added compression and minor modifications.[19]
The announcements did not give a pipeline length, pipe diameter, or route.
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Columbia Gas Transmission, Wikipedia, accessed Aug. 25, 2021.
- ↑ TransCanada/Columbia Gas Transmission LLC TransCanada, accessed Dec. 2017
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 Natural Gas, Pipeline Projects, Energy Information Administration, Jun. 7, 2021, accessed Jul. 12, 2021
- ↑ "Natural Gas - Pipeline projects". eia.gov. 2025-07-01. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "dis.puc.state.oh.us/DocumentRecord.aspx?DocID=606ea458-88fc-414d-9efd-ff65920cfdab". dis.puc.state.oh.us. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 Natural Gas Data, Pipeline Projects Energy Information Agency, Jul. 21, 2020, accessed Aug. 25, 2021.
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 U.S. natural gas pipeline projects, U.S. Energy Information Administration, Apr. 29, 2021, accessed Aug. 25, 2021.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Virginia Electrification Project". www.tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 "regulations.justia.com". regulations.justia.com. Retrieved 2026-11-04.
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 10.19 10.20 10.21 10.22 10.23 10.24 10.25 10.26 10.27 "Natural Gas Pipeline Projects, August 2026 release, U.S. Energy Information Administration". eia.gov. Retrieved 2026-11-04.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 "federalregister.gov". federalregister.gov. Retrieved 2026-11-04.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 77, 22 April 2005, Notices" (PDF). govinfo.gov. Retrieved 2026-11-04.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "federalregister.gov". federalregister.gov. Retrieved 2026-11-04.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Federal Register, Vol. 78, No. 82, 29 April 2013, Notices" (PDF). govinfo.gov. Retrieved 2026-11-04.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "NKY Gate Enhancement Project Fact Sheet, TC Energy" (PDF). tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2026-11-04.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "federalregister.gov". federalregister.gov. Retrieved 2026-11-04.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "worldpipelines.com". worldpipelines.com. Retrieved 2026-11-04.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 18.7 "TC Energy reports strong first quarter 2026 operating and financial results". tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2026-11-05.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 "TC Energy expanding Columbia Gas system with 800-MMcfd Appalachia Supply project". ogj.com. Retrieved 2026-11-05.
- ↑ "ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/tc-energy-appalachia-supply-project-112249874.html". ca.finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2026-11-05.
- ↑ Columbia Gas Transmission Transcanada, accessed Dec. 2017
- ↑ Columbia Pipeline Group sold to Canadian firm in $13 billion deal Columbus Dispatch, Mar. 17, 2016
- ↑ Keystone Pipeline company TransCanada acquires Columbia Pipeline USA Today, Mar. 17, 2016, accessed Aug. 25, 2021.
- ↑ "pilotonline.com/2023/07/25/gas-pipeline-explodes-near-interstate-in-rural-virginia-no-injuries-reported".
- ↑ "TC Energy to sell 40% in Columbia gas transmission systems for $4 billion". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
- ↑ "TC Energy to sell 40% interest in Columbia Gas and Columbia Gulf pipelines". LNG Global.
- ↑ The Louisiana XPress: CGT wants to fast-track project to Sabine Pass, 1012 Industry Report, Aug. 18, 2020, accessed Aug. 25, 2021.
- ↑ "Northern Loop Pipeline Project - Columbia Gas of Ohio". www.columbiagasohio.com. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Federal Register notice on the Line 1278 Replacement Project environmental assessment, April 22, 2005". federalregister.gov. Retrieved 2026-11-04.
- ↑ "Construction begins on pipeline expansion in Hampton Roads, WHRO, July 19, 2024". whro.org. Retrieved 2026-11-04.
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of gas pipelines, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
