The project, which has a capacity of up to 2.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), is supported by long-term contracts and is expected to be completed by mid-2028.
ONEOK, Inc. in collaboration with WhiteWater, MPLX LP, and Enbridge Inc, announced on August 25 a final investment decision to move forward with a significant new natural gas pipeline project. The Eiger Express Pipeline, a venture under the existing Matterhorn joint venture, will serve as a critical piece of infrastructure to transport growing natural gas volumes from the Permian Basin to the U.S. Gulf Coast, a key hub for domestic demand and international exports.
The Eiger Express Pipeline is designed to be an approximately 450-mile, 42-inch pipeline with a significant capacity to transport up to 2.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas. Its planned route will originate in the highly productive Permian Basin in West Texas and extend to the Katy area near Houston, Texas. The pipeline also holds reserved capacity for deliveries to the Corpus Christi, Texas, market, a key location for liquified natural gas (LNG) export facilities. The project will source natural gas from processing facilities and pipeline connections in both the Midland and Delaware basins, including those owned by joint venture partners ONEOK and MPLX.
The ownership structure of the Eiger Express Pipeline joint venture is comprised of a 70% stake held by the Matterhorn JV, with ONEOK and MPLX each holding a direct 15% ownership interest. When factoring in its ownership stake in the Matterhorn JV, ONEOK’s total ownership in the pipeline will be 25.5%. The construction and operation of the pipeline will be managed by WhiteWater.
Pierce H. Norton II, ONEOK's president and chief executive officer, emphasized the project's strategic importance in a statement. "This important infrastructure project is needed to provide additional transportation capacity out of the highly productive Permian Basin," he said. The pipeline's route and connections are designed to provide crucial connectivity to growing natural gas demand markets, which are essential for increasing electricity generation and meeting the rising international demand for liquefied natural gas exports.
The project is already supported by firm transportation agreements with contract terms of ten years or longer, underscoring its commercial viability and the strong market demand for new takeaway capacity out of the Permian Basin. Pending the receipt of customary regulatory and other approvals, the pipeline is projected to be completed and in service in mid-2028.
