Insight
If you build it, will they come? Assessing the need for additional Permian crude pipeline investment
*Please note that this report only includes an Excel data file if this is indicated in "What's included" below
Report summary
Crude production growth is grinding higher in the Permian once again, putting the basin in the driver's seat and leading overall US L48 production higher. However, a hangover from the last build-out boom is still emanating in the midstream segment of the Permian value chain. Amidst record excess capacity and ultra-tight differentials, a spectrum of views has emerged from pipeline owners on the future midstream investment needs in the basin. Some pipeline owners have even gone so far as considering capacity rationalization and conversion in the current hyper-competitive midstream environment. We forecast Permian production to continue moving higher for the better part of this decade and see a clear need for additional midstream investment. In this Insight, we address the questions: how much crude egress capacity will the Permian need, what efficient brownfield options exist, and will there be sufficient demand for capacity to justify greenfield investment?
Table of contents
- The Old World: how the last Permian bottleneck played out and what it means for the future
- The Permian is the only large-scale oil supply growth driver in the Lower 48
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Low-hanging fruit: brownfield vs. greenfield expansions
- Multiple projects are on the table:
- Raising the ceiling
- A paradigm shift in Midland pricing dynamics
- Key conclusions
Tables and charts
This report includes the following images and tables:
- WTI Midland-WTI Houston
- Permian outbound pipeline utilization
- Oil supply forecast by region
- Monthly Permian oil production growth by operator type
- Annual Permian oil production growth
- Gray Oak
- Permian to Gulf Coast pipeline utilization
- WTI Midland-WTI Houston differential: past vs. present
What's included
This report contains:
