Kinder Morgan and Phillips 66 Extend Bidding Period for Western Gateway Pipeline
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Should l Buy KMI?
Source: seekingalpha
- Bidding Period Extension: Kinder Morgan and Phillips 66 announced the extension of the bidding period for the Western Gateway pipeline system from March 31 to April 15, aiming to provide prospective shippers with additional time to complete commercial evaluations, thereby enhancing the project's market appeal.
- Increased Pipeline Capacity: The pipeline system is expected to transport 200,000 barrels per day of refined products, displacing approximately 125,000 barrels per day that Arizona receives from California via the SFPP, significantly enhancing connectivity between the Mid-Continent and Western markets.
- Updated Transportation Services Agreement: The extended bidding period includes updates to the Transportation Services Agreement, involving adjustments to specific rates, aimed at addressing shippers' sensitivity to transportation costs and further promoting commercial collaboration.
- Market Demand Response: In response to shipper interest in remaining pipeline capacity, Kinder Morgan and Phillips 66 are actively enhancing delivery capabilities into the Los Angeles market by adding receipt points, thereby strengthening their competitive position in the energy transportation sector.
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Analyst Views on KMI
Wall Street analysts forecast KMI stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 33.930
Low
27.00
Averages
31.62
High
36.00
Current: 33.930
Low
27.00
Averages
31.62
High
36.00
About KMI
Kinder Morgan, Inc. is an energy infrastructure company. The Company owns an interest in or operates approximately 79,000 miles of pipelines and 139 terminals. Its Natural Gas Pipelines segment includes ownership and operation of interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline and storage systems and natural gas gathering systems and natural gas processing and treating facilities. Its Products Pipelines segment includes ownership and operation of refined petroleum products, crude oil and condensate pipelines that primarily deliver, among other products, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, crude oil and condensate to various markets, plus the ownership and/or operation of associated product terminals and petroleum pipeline transmix facilities. Its Terminals segment includes ownership and/or operation of liquid and bulk terminal facilities and Jones Act-qualified tankers. Its CO2 segment is engaged in the production, transportation and marketing of CO2 to oil fields.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.

- Bidding Period Extension: Kinder Morgan and Phillips 66 announced the extension of the bidding period for the Western Gateway pipeline system from March 31 to April 15, aiming to provide prospective shippers with additional time to complete commercial evaluations, thereby enhancing the project's market appeal.
- Increased Pipeline Capacity: The pipeline system is expected to transport 200,000 barrels per day of refined products, displacing approximately 125,000 barrels per day that Arizona receives from California via the SFPP, significantly enhancing connectivity between the Mid-Continent and Western markets.
- Updated Transportation Services Agreement: The extended bidding period includes updates to the Transportation Services Agreement, involving adjustments to specific rates, aimed at addressing shippers' sensitivity to transportation costs and further promoting commercial collaboration.
- Market Demand Response: In response to shipper interest in remaining pipeline capacity, Kinder Morgan and Phillips 66 are actively enhancing delivery capabilities into the Los Angeles market by adding receipt points, thereby strengthening their competitive position in the energy transportation sector.
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- Open Season Extension: Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan announced the extension of the second open season for the Western Gateway Pipeline until April 15, enhancing delivery options into the Los Angeles market and increasing competitive positioning in the region.
- Increased Evaluation Time: The extension provides prospective shippers additional time to complete commercial evaluations of the updated Transportation Services Agreement, ensuring they can secure remaining capacity on the pipeline, which is crucial for future business growth.
- Initial Open Season Success: The initial open season concluded in December with significant interest and commitments from shippers, indicating strong market demand for the project and suggesting substantial future commercial potential.
- Investment in Energy Infrastructure: As a leading downstream energy provider, Phillips 66 aims to enhance its capabilities in energy transportation and storage through this project, aligning with global trends towards renewable energy and a lower-carbon economy.
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- Open Season Extension: Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan announced the extension of the second open season for the Western Gateway Pipeline until April 15, aiming to meet market demand for the Los Angeles area and enhance participation from prospective shippers.
- Increased Evaluation Time: This extension provides prospective shippers with additional time to complete commercial evaluations of the updated Transportation Services Agreement, ensuring internal approvals and thereby improving the pipeline system's utilization.
- Successful Initial Open Season: The initial open season concluded in December with significant interest and commitments from shippers, indicating strong market demand for the pipeline project and further solidifying its feasibility.
- Strategic Partnership Outlook: This collaboration not only enhances both companies' market positions in energy infrastructure but also opens potential expansion opportunities for renewable energy transportation, aligning with the global shift towards a lower-carbon economy.
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- Oil Price Impact: Brent crude prices have surged back above $100 per barrel, reflecting the market's heightened sensitivity to geopolitical news, and while there have been short-term pullbacks, supply disruptions keep prices elevated, creating uncertainty for investors.
- Large Energy Stock Advantage: In the current turbulent market environment, established firms like Chevron, Kinder Morgan, and TC Energy stand out as ideal choices for investors seeking stability due to their strong market positions and reliable dividend payouts amidst oil and gas price fluctuations.
- Importance of Dividends: In uncertain market conditions, dividend-paying stocks provide a steady income source, allowing investors to buffer against price swings, which is especially valuable when short-term price movements are unpredictable.
- Future Growth Potential: The diversified operations and strong cash flows of Chevron, Kinder Morgan, and TC Energy position them well to withstand future market volatility, with expectations for continued reliable dividends and potential capital appreciation opportunities.
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- Agreement Details: The U.S. government has agreed to pay TotalEnergies $1 billion to shelve offshore wind projects on the East Coast, redirecting funds towards U.S. LNG production, indicating a reassessment of renewable energy initiatives by the administration.
- Investment Redirection: TotalEnergies has committed to invest approximately $1 billion in oil and gas and LNG production in the U.S., particularly focusing on developing four trains at the Rio Grande LNG plant in Texas, aimed at enhancing U.S. energy security.
- National Security Considerations: The Department of the Interior highlighted that, in light of national security concerns, TotalEnergies has pledged not to develop any new offshore wind projects, reflecting the current global energy supply challenges.
- Policy Support: TotalEnergies' CEO stated that this agreement will support U.S. gas production and exports, expected to provide much-needed LNG to Europe while also supplying gas for U.S. data center development, showcasing improved capital efficiency.
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- Background of Oil Price Volatility: Oil prices have been highly volatile due to the conflict with Iran, starting around $60 per barrel at the year's beginning, peaking near $120, and recently falling below $110, indicating significant market uncertainty.
- Oil Stock Investment Strategy: Given the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, investors should consider companies like ExxonMobil (XOM), which aims to increase annual earnings capacity by $25 billion and cash flow by $35 billion by 2030, ensuring continued dividends and share buybacks even in a low-price environment.
- Stability of Pipeline Stocks: Another strategy is to invest in pipeline companies like Kinder Morgan (KMI), which derives 70% of its cash flow from take-or-pay contracts, ensuring stable income, with only 4% of cash flows directly exposed to commodity prices.
- Future Growth Potential: Kinder Morgan has nearly $10 billion in pipeline projects underway, providing growth momentum for the coming years, while its attractive dividend (increased for nine consecutive years) offers investors stable returns.
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