U.S. Energy Infrastructure and the Growing Demand for Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and NGLs: Strategic ETF Investment Opportunities

The U.S. energy infrastructure sector is undergoing a transformative phase, driven by surging demand for crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). As production forecasts climb and carbon management initiatives gain traction, energy infrastructure ETFs are emerging as compelling vehicles for investors seeking exposure to this evolving landscape. This analysis explores the strategic potential of two key ETFs-Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP) and Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF (ENFR)-and their alignment with the sector's growth trajectory.

A Surge in Energy Production: The Foundation for Infrastructure Growth

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's November 2025 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), crude oil production is projected to grow by 2.7% in 2025 compared to 2024, while natural gas production is expected to rise by 4.5% annually over the same period, a report. Natural Gas Plant Liquids (NGLs) production is also forecasted to expand by 5.0% from 2024 to 2025, a report. These trends underscore the critical role of energy infrastructure in transporting, storing, and processing these commodities to meet domestic and global demand.

For instance, U.S. Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: USEG) has recently advanced its industrial gas development projects in Montana, including the design of a gas processing facility and an infill gathering system, a press release. Such projects highlight the infrastructure investments required to capitalize on production growth, creating tailwinds for ETFs focused on midstream energy assets.

AMLP and ENFR: Strategic Exposure to Energy Infrastructure

The Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP) and Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF (ENFR) are two of the most prominent ETFs targeting energy infrastructure. Both funds are designed to track indices of North American energy infrastructure companies, but their focus areas and exposure profiles differ.

AMLP: Diversified Midstream MLP Exposure

AMLP tracks the Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index (AMZI), which includes high-quality Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) engaged in midstream operations such as transportation, storage, and processing of energy commodities, a Yahoo Finance page. Top holdings include Western Midstream Partners LP, MPLX LP Partnership Units, and Enterprise Products Partners LP, a Morningstar portfolio page. While AMLP does not explicitly break down its portfolio by crude oil, natural gas, or NGLs exposure, its focus on MLPs inherently positions it to benefit from the sector's stable cash flows and long-term contracts, a fund page.

ENFR: Natural Gas-Centric Infrastructure Focus

ENFR, on the other hand, is explicitly tailored to natural gas infrastructure. Approximately 70% of its portfolio revenues are tied to natural gas servicing activities, including transportation, storage, processing, and liquefaction, a fund page. This makes ENFR particularly well-suited to capitalize on the 4.5% annual growth in U.S. natural gas production and the rising demand for NGLs, a report. The fund's alignment with the Alerian Midstream Energy Select Index (AMEI) ensures exposure to companies directly involved in the midstream value chain, a fund page.

Performance and Liquidity: AMLP and ENFR in 2025

While detailed 2023–2025 performance metrics for AMLP and ENFR are not publicly available in the provided sources, broader market trends suggest their potential. For example, U.S. Energy Corporation's Q3 2025 results revealed $11.4 million in available liquidity to fund infrastructure projects, a press release, signaling confidence in the sector's ability to generate returns. Similarly, the STEO's forecasts for crude oil and natural gas production growth, a report, imply sustained demand for midstream infrastructure, which AMLP and ENFR are designed to capture.

Strategic Considerations for Investors

Investors considering AMLP or ENFR should weigh their risk profiles and market outlooks. AMLP's diversified MLP portfolio offers broad midstream exposure but may be more sensitive to fluctuations in crude oil prices. ENFR's natural gas focus aligns it with the sector's 4.5% annual production growth but may underperform if NGL demand lags expectations. Additionally, both ETFs benefit from the sector's inflation-resilient cash flows and steady income streams, a Seeking Alpha article, making them attractive in a low-yield environment.

Conclusion

The U.S. energy infrastructure sector is poised to play a pivotal role in meeting the rising demand for crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs. ETFs like AMLP and ENFR provide strategic access to this growth, with AMLP offering diversified midstream exposure and ENFR capitalizing on natural gas-specific opportunities. As production forecasts climb and carbon management initiatives advance, these ETFs represent compelling long-term investment vehicles for investors aligned with the energy transition.