Every day, thousands of miles of underground pipelines quietly and safely deliver energy, ensuring our homes remain comfortable and well-lit. Williams owns and operates Transco, the nation’s largest and most reliable interstate natural gas transmission pipeline.
Williams’ Transco system is not just one pipeline, but an artery of about 10,000 miles of pipelines connecting an energy corridor spanning from south Texas to New York City. This infrastructure network transports about 15 percent of the natural gas consumed in the U.S., making it the largest of four interstate pipelines operated by Williams.
Much of the electricity that consumers use in their homes and businesses in the United States originates from natural gas transmission pipelines like Transco. Natural gas is also a critical energy source for industrial and commercial uses, businesses and households for heating, cooking and hot water.
From historic beginnings to a sustainable future
To fully appreciate the astounding growth of Transco, it’s important to note where we started. When the Transco pipeline was placed into service in 1949, it was touted as the longest pipeline in the world and the largest single-project construction venture ever attempted.
Over the past 75 years, the pipeline has undergone numerous expansions to keep pace with increasing energy demand. As the focus on clean energy intensifies, Transco is well-positioned to support the transition to a more sustainable energy future.
A prime example of this is the Southeast Supply Enhancement (SSE) project, one of the largest projects currently proposed by Williams. This expansion will support the Transco pipeline’s capacity across Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, providing the region with essential access to affordable, clean and reliable natural gas. The project will add approximately 1.6 million dekatherms per day of pipeline capacity, equivalent to what is needed to supply around 9.8 million homes with natural gas for hot water, heating, and cooking.
This expansion project is designed to optimize the use of existing energy corridors and facilities to minimize environmental and community impacts. Once approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the project is expected to serve the region by the fourth quarter of 2027.
Transco facts
- Transco is the largest-volume interstate pipeline in the U.S.
- The pipeline transports 15% of the natural gas in the U.S.
- The first delivery from Transco was in 1950.
- Transco has operations in 13 states, extending from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico through Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the New York City metropolitan area.
- Transco’s system includes 60 compressor stations, four underground storage fields and one LNG storage facility: compression facilities at sea level-rated capacity total approximately 2.5 million horsepower.
- Transco’s system capacity is 19.5 million dekatherms per day. That’s enough to supply the natural gas needs on a typical January day for approximately 62% of the U.S. households using natural gas.