Despite thecontinued decline in natural gas prices, construction opportunities remain strong in the market, particularly in Texas and Louisiana.

In this week's ENR cover story "Pipeline Pressure," ENR contributor Jack Buehrer reports on the growing needs of the natural gas industry. The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America estimates that during the next 25 years, transmission demands will require nearly 2,000 miles of additional pipeline construction annually in the lower 48 states, a roughly 17% increase over current capacity. Total 25-year investment in the new lines could reach $250 billion.

Recently, China's Tiajin Pipe Corp.broke ground on a $1.3-billion pipe manufacturing plant in Gregory, Texas. Jacobs Engineering Group is the program manager.

New LNG liquefaction plants, built to support LNG export, are already a big driver of activity. Last week,Foster Wheeler was awarded an owner's engineer contractfor anew $6-billion liquefaction project in Hackberry, La.

Also in April, Energy Transfer Equity filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissionto build a liquefaction project in Lake Charles, La.and theFERC approved a $10-billion plan by Cheniere Energy Partners to expand its facilities in Cameron Paris for export of LNG.