Construction of the Matterhorn Express Pipeline, a 42-inch natural gas pipeline, is set to commence in June 2023. Landowners in southeastern New Mexico and across a wide swath of Texas may see their rights potentially affected as the project gets underway. The pipeline is anticipated to commence service in the third quarter of 2024.
Upon completion of the project, the Matterhorn Express Pipeline is expected to deliver up to 2.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. This product will be transported from the Permian Basin in southeastern New Mexico and western Texas to Katy, Texas, near Houston. In all, the pipeline will cross 19 counties in Texas.
While Matterhorn Express claims it disfavors the use of eminent domain to acquire necessary property rights, it does state it will use eminent domain, if necessary, as a “last resort.”
Proponents of the pipeline project claim that the Matterhorn Express Pipeline will create 50 new permanent jobs in Texas and bring in approximately $35 million annually to state and local governments.
Matterhorn Express Pipeline FAQs
The Matterhorn Express Pipeline is owned by a consortium of four companies: WhiteWater Midstream, EnLink Midstream, Devon Energy, and MPLX. These partners announced a final investment decision to move forward with the construction of the pipeline, which is designed to enhance natural gas transport capacity from the Permian Basin to markets near Houston, Texas
The pipeline spans approximately 580 miles from Pecos County, TX to Wharton County, TX.
The Matterhorn Express Pipeline is designed to transport natural gas from the Permian Basin to the Katy area near Houston, Texas. It aims to enhance the U.S.’s energy security by providing critical takeaway capacity for natural gas, which will help in minimizing emissions related to flaring and reducing energy costs.
The Matterhorn Express Pipeline is projected to be operational by the third quarter of 2024. This timeline is seen as conservative, with potential for the project to be completed earlier. Initial operations are closely tied to the completion of necessary compressor stations and the acquisition of right-of-way for the pipeline.
The pipeline is equipped to transport up to 2.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.
