Oil & gas pipelines in North America

Pipelines are the most common form of oil and natural gas transportation in North America. They provide one of the safest and most cost-efficient means of moving liquid and gaseous fuels to consumer markets. In the past decade, the need for a wider pipeline infrastructure has grown in tandem with Canada and the United States heavily investing in unconventional oil and gas extraction. Today, more than 460 individual pipelines are spread throughout Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. The U.S. in particular boasts by far the largest pipeline capacity in the world for both oil and gas products. However, due to greater scrutiny over environmental impacts of the fossil fuel industry and potential environmental and social implications, extensions of pipeline networks have drawn protests from climate activists and Indigenous peoples. This report explores the status quo on pipeline projects in North America, and also gives information on current developments within the region's oil and gas extraction industry.