Venture Global (VG) has lifted the operational capacity of the Gator Express pipeline system by over 600 MMcf/d ahead of a planned Phase 2 expansion at Plaquemines LNG.
On Sept. 10, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a request by VG to increase Gator Express’ certificated capacity by 627,000 Dth/d. East Daley Analytics picked up on the expansion through the ‘LNG Heat Content’ dashboard in Energy Data Studio (see figure below). The expansion takes the system’s total capacity to 4.567 Bcf/d.
The uprate owes to the performance of the twin 48-inch lines supplying the Plaquemines terminal in southeastern Louisiana. Venture Global started the Gator Express system in late 2024 and frequently runs volumes at or over nameplate. The company argued the additional capacity would reflect the true upper limits of the Gator Express system, and FERC agreed. The expansion requires no new construction or modifications.
Gator Express is one of the largest LNG feeder systems, receiving ~4 Bcf/d from Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP), Texas Eastern Transmission (TETCO) and Columbia Gulf Transmission. East Daley’s flow data shows TGP supplying ~48% of receipts, followed by TETCO at 37% and CGP at 15% (see figure below).
Plaquemines has been a key contributor to recent gas demand growth, ramping feedgas through 2025 to over 4 Bcf/d by the end of the year. Gator Express has been flowing at or above its 3.86 Bcf/d nameplate, averaging 4.04 Bcf/d YTD in 2026. The uprate is likely more relevant for the next expansion phase at Plaquemines than for current operations.
Venture Global’s first expansion phase calls for eight additional trains with ~6 Mtpa of LNG production capacity, equivalent to ~0.9 Bcf/d of feedgas demand. VG is targeting a final investment decision in 1H27 and first LNG production in 2029.
VG is also advancing plans for Cloud Connector, a roughly 300-mile pipeline designed to move up to 4.5 Bcf/d of Haynesville gas toward Plaquemines. The first phase of Cloud Connector (165 miles) is included in Phase1 of the Plaquemines expansion.
Together, these pipeline projects would create supply options as VG pursues the three-phase Plaquemines expansion: 32 trains and ~31 Mtpa of additional LNG production capacity. The company has outlined the first phase but has not provided the same detail for the latter phases. – Emily Cecchini Tickers: VG.
One Market, One Model: Gain a Holistic View of North America Supply & Demand
East Daley Analytics is pleased to announce the Canada Supply & Demand report. The Canada S&D completes our North American model, providing a fully integrated supply and demand forecast for crude oil and natural gas. East Daley follows molecules from Canadian production through US infrastructure to end-markets. Clients now have a continental view to anticipate trends, from how Canadian gas is reshaping Midwest markets, to how crude imports flow to Gulf Coast refiners. The Canada S&D report and dataset is available exclusively in Energy Data Studio. Reach out to learn more about East Daley’s North American energy model.
The Daley Note
Subscribe to The Daley Note for energy insights delivered daily to your inbox. The Daley Note covers news, commodity prices, security prices and EDA research likely to affect markets in the short term.