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The WhiteWater-led joint venture plans two 48-inch natural gas pipelines from the Permian Basin to Katy, Texas, with a similarly sized second phase targeted to follow in 2030.
Published by Allstream Insiders
Allstream Insiders Summary
Devon Energy has announced a positive final investment decision on the Solitude Pipeline System, a WhiteWater-led joint venture that plans to construct two 48-inch natural gas pipelines connecting the Permian Basin to Katy, Texas.
Devon said the first phase is designed for approximately 2.25 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas transportation capacity and is expected to enter service during the second half of 2029. A similarly sized second phase is planned to follow in 2030, with the system capable of further expansion in response to shipper demand.
Devon has secured firm transportation capacity on Solitude and will hold a 25% equity interest in the joint venture. WhiteWater will hold 50%, while MPLX will own 10%, Diamondback Energy 7.5% and Western Midstream Partners 7.5%.
Construction and the announced in-service schedule remain subject to customary regulatory approvals. Devon did not disclose the project’s capital cost, total mileage, detailed route, construction start date or the amount of Solitude capacity committed to Devon.
What Is the Solitude Pipeline System?
The Solitude Pipeline System is a planned two-pipeline natural gas transportation development intended to connect Permian Basin supply with the Katy market area in Texas.
| Project element | Company-reported detail |
|---|---|
| Pipeline configuration | Two 48-inch natural gas pipelines |
| Origin and destination | Permian Basin to Katy, Texas |
| First-phase design capacity | Approximately 2.25 Bcf/d |
| First-phase target | Second half of 2029 |
| Second phase | Described by Devon as similarly sized |
| Second-phase target | 2030 |
| Expansion potential | Further expansion may be considered in response to shipper demand |
| Project status | Positive final investment decision announced; construction and timing remain subject to customary regulatory approvals |
Devon did not state an exact combined capacity for the two phases. The company described the second phase as similarly sized, so Allstream is not assigning a separate capacity figure to that phase or presenting a derived total as a company-disclosed amount.
Who Owns the Solitude Pipeline Joint Venture?
WhiteWater will hold the largest interest in the Solitude joint venture, while Devon will own one-quarter of the development.
| Joint-venture participant | Company-reported ownership interest |
|---|---|
| WhiteWater | 50% |
| Devon Energy | 25% |
| MPLX | 10% |
| Diamondback Energy | 7.5% |
| Western Midstream Partners | 7.5% |
| Total | 100% |
Devon characterized Solitude as a WhiteWater-led joint venture. The announcement did not provide additional details concerning governance, construction management or each participant’s funding obligation.
What Commercial Support Has Devon Disclosed for Solitude?
Devon said it has secured firm transportation capacity on the Solitude Pipeline System, but the company did not disclose the contracted volume, transportation rate or term of that commitment.
The company is positioning Solitude as part of its broader plan to move Delaware Basin natural gas away from the Waha market and toward Gulf Coast demand. Devon said the route will provide access to markets connected with expanding liquefied natural gas exports and power generation.
Devon has also reported a 100 MMcf/d international LNG-linked pricing agreement beginning in 2027 and an additional 150 MMcf/d agreement beginning in 2028. The announcement did not identify the counterparties or state that those pricing agreements are dependent on Solitude entering service.
“Solitude is not a standalone investment; it is the next step in an integrated model we have been building for years,” Devon President and Chief Executive Officer Clay Gaspar said.
How Does Solitude Fit Devon’s Delaware Basin Infrastructure Strategy?
Solitude extends a broader infrastructure strategy that Devon says is intended to secure transportation, processing, compression, power and water capacity supporting its Delaware Basin operations.
Devon identified several existing or planned components of that strategy:
- Blackcomb and Eiger transportation: Devon said it has secured an additional 550 MMcf/d of firm transportation capacity across the two projects.
- Catalyst Midstream Partners: Devon holds a 50% interest in the joint venture with Howard Energy Partners, which serves the Stateline development with more than 600 MMcf/d of gas processing capacity.
- Cotton Draw Midstream: Devon acquired the remaining third-party interests in August 2025 and now owns the gathering and compression system serving its Cotton Draw development.
- Operated compression: Devon reported 3.4 Bcf/d of operated compression capacity across its Cotton Draw, Stateline and Triple Crown systems.
- Basin Ranch Energy Center: Devon has agreed to supply 115 MMcf/d for seven years to Competitive Power Ventures’ planned 1,350-megawatt power project in Ward County, Texas, beginning in 2028.
- Delaware Basin water systems: Devon reported nearly 1,000 miles of water pipeline and approximately 2.2 million barrels per day of system capacity across its owned and operated water infrastructure.
These assets and contracts are separate from Solitude. Their inclusion in Devon’s announcement illustrates the company’s stated strategy but should not be interpreted as part of the Solitude construction scope.
What Could Solitude Require from the Industrial Supply Chain?
Based solely on the publicly disclosed two-pipeline configuration—not on announced procurement packages—the Solitude development could eventually involve work related to:
- Large-diameter line pipe and associated fittings
- Compressor stations and rotating equipment
- Metering, regulation and interconnection facilities
- Civil construction, right-of-way preparation and trenching
- Pipeline welding, nondestructive examination and integrity testing
- Electrical, instrumentation, controls and communications systems
- Environmental, survey, engineering and regulatory-support services
Devon and the other joint-venture participants have not announced contractor selections, equipment awards, bid packages or procurement schedules for Solitude. These categories describe possible work associated with the disclosed configuration and are not confirmed contracting opportunities.
Solitude Pipeline Project Tracker
| Item | Current company disclosure |
|---|---|
| Final investment decision | Positive decision announced August 17, 2026 |
| Project lead | WhiteWater-led joint venture |
| Pipeline scope | Two 48-inch natural gas pipelines |
| Route | Permian Basin to Katy, Texas |
| Phase 1 | Approximately 2.25 Bcf/d; targeted for the second half of 2029 |
| Phase 2 | Similarly sized; targeted to follow in 2030 |
| Devon participation | 25% equity interest plus firm transportation capacity |
| Regulatory status | Construction and timing remain subject to customary regulatory approvals |
| Capital cost | Not disclosed |
| Contractors and procurement | Not announced |
Allstream Insiders Perspective
Solitude adds another large-diameter route to the expanding network intended to move Permian Basin natural gas toward the Katy market area and downstream Gulf Coast demand.
The project’s announced strengths are its final investment decision, a defined ownership group and Devon’s commitment to firm transportation capacity. Those disclosures provide commercial and strategic support, but they do not eliminate construction, regulatory or schedule risk.
The first phase has the clearest disclosed scope: approximately 2.25 Bcf/d targeted for the second half of 2029. Devon described the 2030 phase as similarly sized without stating an exact capacity, and it presented further expansion as dependent on shipper demand.
Until the joint venture provides additional disclosures, project-level capital requirements, construction contracts, equipment awards and procurement timing remain unconfirmed. The announced 2029 and 2030 dates should be treated as company targets rather than guaranteed completion dates.
