Infrastructure Requirements

New Alaska pipeline system
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), is capable of transporting a maximum of 2.136 million barrels per day.  Between EIA projected Alaska production, the use of EOR technology, and new production from ANWR, NPR-A, heavy oil, and offshore Alaska, more than double the current pipeline capacity will be required.  It is virtually certain that TAPS capacity will be fully utilized just between new ANWR production and existing Prudhoe Bay production within at most 3 - 4 years of ANWR production beginning.

Planning needs to begin now for an additional pipeline system in order for it to be operational before it becomes a bottleneck for further production increases from the other sources.  It is a national and energy security issue to have multiple pipelines.  Should one pipeline experience problems, at most only half of production would be affected.

A natural gas pipeline contract has been awarded and is projected to be operational in November of 2017.  The route of the gas pipeline will generally follow TAPS for much of the Alaska portion.  It should be possible to "piggyback" construction of an additional oil pipeline simultaneously with the gas pipeline. 

OCS Pipelines
Other infrastructure is required to access the full potential of OCS production, especially around southern California.

Bakken/Oil Shale/Heavy Oil/Tar Sands Pipelines
"The boom has been so big the pipeline carrying Montana and North Dakota crude to Midwestern markets is at capacity and the largest company drilling in Elm Coulee has temporarily closed some wells because they have no way to sell it." - The Montana Standard

Pipelines are also required to transport the shale oil and Bakken oil to refineries or if new refineries are built nearby to process the oils, to transport the finished products.

CTL Pipelines
New pipeline capacity will be required to transport the liquids produced.

CO2 Pipelines
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CO2 Generators
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Refining
AEO2008 also assumes refining remains a problem:
In the reference case, demand for refined products continues to increase more rapidly than refining capacity.

Additional infrastructure resources

TAPS Facts