How the gas pipeline network grew

Lengths are the tracker’s reported figure for each pipeline and are added within a period only. For the longest pipelines overall see longest pipelines, and for who owns them pipeline owners.

When did most of today’s operating gas pipelines start?

2020–2024 has the most: 474 of the 2,261 operating pipelines that report a start year. The tracker lists only pipelines still operating, so earlier periods describe the survivors, not everything built.

Which period added the most pipeline length?

1949 and earlier, with 123,369 km reported across 14 pipelines. A single network can account for much of a period: the longest there is Northern Natural Gas Pipeline at 23,014 km. Each pipeline’s whole reported length is credited to the year GEM gives as its start, even if the network grew later.

Is this the full history of gas pipeline building?

No. Only the 2,261 operating pipelines with a start year are shown. 714 operating pipelines report no start year and are not placed, and 24 idle, mothballed or retired pipelines that do report one are left out.

Does the length include pipelines that share a corridor?

Lengths are added as reported, one per pipeline. The tracker lists each project separately and does not say whether the routes of different projects overlap, so the totals are lengths listed, not kilometres of distinct trench.