合资公司的资产将包括Enbridge的Rio Bravo管道项目、WhiteWater和MPLX的Whistler天然气管道、ADCC天然气管道70%的股份以及Waha Gas Storage 50%的股份

该合资公司将开发、建设、拥有和运营天然气管道和储存资产，以满足不断增长的液化天然气和美国天然气公司的需求。 （图片来源：Unsplash 上的 SELSIM ARDA ERYILMAZ）

Enbridge 已同意与 WhiteWater、I Squared Capital 和 MPLX 组建一家中游合资企业 (JV)，供应来自美国二叠纪盆地的天然气。

该合资公司将开发、建设、拥有和运营天然气管道和储存资产，以满足不断增长的液化天然气（LNG）和美国墨西哥湾沿岸（USGC）需求。

Enbridge 将持有该合资公司 19% 的股份，而 WhiteWater 和 I Squared 将合计持有 50.6% 的股份。剩余的30.4%股权将由MPLX拥有。

根据协议条款，安桥将出资其 100% 拥有的 Rio Bravo 管道项目和约 3.5 亿美元现金购买合资公司股份。作为投资的一部分，这家加拿大中游公司将保留该管道项目 25% 的经济权益。

Rio Bravo 管道长约 220 公里，正在建设中，将天然气从 Agua Dulce 供应区输送到德克萨斯州布朗斯维尔 NextDecade 拥有的 Rio Grande 液化天然气项目。

该合资公司将把 Rio Bravo 管道项目与近 724 公里长的惠斯勒天然气管道结合起来，该管道连接二叠纪盆地和德克萨斯州阿瓜杜尔塞。目前，Whistle 管道由 WhiteWater 和 MPLX 共同拥有。

双方表示，合资企业还将拥有拟建的 64 公里长 ADCC 天然气管道 70% 的所有权，该管道由惠斯勒管道公司和切尼尔能源公司拥有。这条州内管道预计每天将 17 亿立方英尺 (Bcf/d) 的天然气从位于阿瓜杜尔塞的惠斯勒天然气管道终点输送到 Cheniere Energy 旗下的科珀斯克里斯蒂液化天然气出口设施。

新合资公司将持有瓦哈储气库项目50%的股权。瓦哈储气库由白水公司所有，由位于德克萨斯州佩科斯县的地下盐穴组成，存储容量约为 2Bcf。

Enbridge 执行副总裁兼天然气传输和中游总裁 Cynthia Hansen 表示：“通过与 WhiteWater/I Squared 和 MPLX 成立的合资企业，获得二叠纪天然气综合管道和存储网络的有意义的股权，该网络直接连接到我们在 Agua Dulce 的现有基础设施非常令人兴奋。

“这是增强我们超级系统方法的好方法，将能源供应带到最需要的地方，并为国内和出口客户提供最后一英里的连接。”

该合资交易取决于必要的监管批准和其他条件，预计将于 2024 年第二季度完成。

白水公司将继续运营合资企业涉及的资产，包括 Rio Bravo 管道项目。

WhiteWater 首席执行官 Christer Rundlof 表示：“此次战略交易对 WhiteWater/I Squared 和 MPLX 来说是一次胜利。它延长了平均合同期限，使我们更接近安桥的重要战略合作伙伴，并使我们在支持墨西哥湾沿岸液化天然气的未来发展机会中处于有利地位。”

The JV’s assets will include Enbridge’s Rio Bravo pipeline project, WhiteWater and MPLX’s Whistler natural gas pipeline, a 70% stake in the ADCC natural gas pipeline, and a 50% stake in Waha Gas Storage

The JV will develop, build, own, and operate natural gas pipeline and storage assets to address growing LNG and USGC demand. (Credit: SELİM ARDA ERYILMAZ on Unsplash)

Enbridge has agreed to form a midstream joint venture (JV) with WhiteWater, I Squared Capital, and MPLX pertaining to the supply of natural gas drawn from the Permian Basin, US.

The JV will develop, build, own, and operate natural gas pipeline and storage assets to address growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) and US Gulf Coast (USGC) demand.

Enbridge will hold a 19% stake in the JV, while WhiteWater and I Squared will have a combined 50.6% share. The remaining 30.4% stake will be owned by MPLX.

As per the terms of the agreement, Enbridge will contribute its 100% owned Rio Bravo pipeline project and around $350m in cash for the JV stake. The Canadian midstream firm will retain an economic interest of 25% in the pipeline project as part of its investment.

The Rio Bravo pipeline, which will be about 220km long, is being built to bring natural gas from the Agua Dulce supply area to the Rio Grande LNG project owned by NextDecade in Brownsville, Texas.

The JV will combine the Rio Bravo pipeline project with the nearly 724km long Whistler natural gas pipeline, which connects the Permian Basin to Agua Dulce, Texas. Currently, the Whistle pipeline is owned jointly by WhiteWater and MPLX.

According to the parties, the JV will also include 70% ownership in the proposed 64km long ADCC natural gas pipeline, owned by Whistler Pipeline and Cheniere Energy. This intrastate pipeline is expected to bring 1.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of gas from the Whistler gas pipeline’s terminus in Agua Dulce to the Corpus Christi LNG export facility owned by Cheniere Energy.

The new JV will have a 50% stake in the Waha Gas Storage project. Owned by WhiteWater, Waha Gas Storage is made up of underground salt caverns located in Pecos County, Texas with a storage capacity of around 2Bcf.

Enbridge EVP and gas transmission and midstream president Cynthia Hansen said: “Acquiring a meaningful equity interest in an integrated Permian natural gas pipeline and storage network that is directly connected to our existing infrastructure at Agua Dulce through this JV with WhiteWater/I Squared and MPLX is very exciting.

“This is a great way to enhance our super-system approach, bringing energy supply to places where it is needed most and providing last mile connectivity to domestic and export customers.”

The JV deal, which is contingent on the necessary regulatory approvals and other conditions, is anticipated to close in Q2 2024.

WhiteWater will continue to operate the assets involved in the JV, including the Rio Bravo pipeline project.

WhiteWater CEO Christer Rundlof said: “This strategic transaction is a win for WhiteWater/I Squared and MPLX. It extends the average contract tenor, brings us closer to an important strategic partner in Enbridge and positions us well for future development opportunities supporting Gulf Coast LNG.”