FAYETTEVILLE GATHERING/BALD MT Gas Pipeline - Choctaw, Arkansas | USA Pipeline Infrastructure

FAYETTEVILLE GATHERING/BALD MT is a gas pipeline facility located in Choctaw, Van Buren County, Arkansas, United States. The facility is operational and serves as part of the natural gas gathering infrastructure in the region. Its specific length is not detailed, but gathering pipelines in the Fayetteville Shale play typically span tens to hundreds of miles. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and DOT 49 CFR Part 192, which governs gas pipeline safety. This includes requirements for cathodic protection, leak detection, and integrity management. As a gathering pipeline, it may be subject to additional state-level regulations in Arkansas. This pipeline plays a key role in transporting natural gas from production areas to processing facilities or transmission lines. Its location in the Fayetteville Shale region underscores its importance in supporting domestic energy production. The facility contributes to the local economy and energy supply chain.

The pipeline traverses areas near the Ozark Mountains and the Arkansas River watershed. Proximity to waterways and rural communities requires robust cathodic protection and leak detection systems to prevent environmental contamination. The transported natural gas poses lower spill risk than liquids, but methane leakage remains a concern for greenhouse gas emissions.