US forecasted to dominate North America’s gas processing capacity additions by 2026

The US is expected to lead North America’s planned and announced gas processing capacity additions between 2022 and 2026, contributing around 65% of the region’s total gas processing additions by 2026, says data and analytics company GlobalData.

GlobalData’s report, Global Capacity and Capital Expenditure Outlook for Gas Processing Plants, 2022–2026 reveals that the US is expected to witness planned gas processing capacity additions of 3.8 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) and an announced gas processing capacity additions of 5 bcfd by 2026.

Sudarshini Ennelli, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Bighorn and Smithburg II-VI are the two largest upcoming gas processing plants in the US, each with a capacity of 1 bcfd. The Bighorn gas processing plant is expected to start operations in 2024, The planned Bighorn facility helps the operator DCP Midstream LP to expand its gas processing capacity in the liquids rich DJ Basin. The company already signed an offload agreement with Western Midstream Partners, which facilitates the expansion of the facility.”

On the other hand, the Smithburg II-VI plant is expected to start operations in 2025. The plant helps Sherwood Midstream to process gas produced from the Marcellus and Utica shales.

Sudarshini adds: “Canada accounts for most of the remaining gas processing capacity additions in North America, with a total capacity of 4.6 bcfd by 2026. Chetwynd would have the highest gas processing capacity among upcoming plants in the country with 1.5 bcfd. Expected to start operations in 2024, the announced plant helps to process unconventional gas produced in British Columbia.”