Matterhorn Expansion Likely Online, Boosting Permian Gas Flows

Flows on the Matterhorn Express Pipeline suggest its expansion is in service, boosting Permian gas throughput and easing bottlenecks across the network.

(P&GJ) — A key expansion on the Matterhorn Express Pipeline appears to be in service, adding new takeaway capacity for Permian Basin natural gas, according to a recent report from East Daley Analytics.

Pipeline flow data monitored by East Daley show deliveries on Matterhorn rising from a steady 1.65 billion cubic feet per day since June to as high as 1.95 billion cubic feet per day in November, indicating the long-anticipated 0.5 billion cubic feet per day compression expansion may now be operating.

“After consistently delivering about 1.65 billion cubic feet per day since June to the Katy market, Matterhorn flows jumped to as high as 1.95 billion cubic feet per day in November,” East Daley reported, noting the sustained increase “suggests that expansion is now underway or completed.”

The WhiteWater Midstream joint venture, which operates the pipeline, had originally targeted the added compression for late-2025 after the system’s initial ramp-up. Matterhorn was constructed with 2.0 billion cubic feet per day of capacity, and the new expansion would bring total throughput potential to around 2.5 billion cubic feet per day.

East Daley observed that deliveries to interstate interconnects and the Tres Palacios storage hub have held above 1.8 billion cubic feet per day since Nov. 7, following short flow declines in late October consistent with maintenance for the new compression startup.

Earlier filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) showed the pipeline fully subscribed at 2.0 billion cubic feet per day under 13 shipper contracts as of 1Q25. Roughly 18% of total flows are delivered to intrastate pipelines, suggesting interstate volumes could climb to about 2.05 billion cubic feet per day once the expansion reaches full utilization, East Daley said.

The added capacity is expected to ease pressure on constrained Permian takeaway systems, where nearly all major gas lines are running full. The next major relief project, Kinder Morgan’s Gulf Coast Express expansion, isn’t slated to start service until mid-2026.

East Daley said it is updating its Permian Supply & Demand model to reflect the new capacity and now forecasts Matterhorn flows reaching 2.5 billion cubic feet per day beginning in November.