The Western Gateway Pipeline has secured sufficient long-term shipper commitments following a successful second open season to move the project into development, with Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan confirming the project will advance subject to execution of definitive transportation service agreements, joint venture agreements, and board approvals from both companies.
Second Open Season: What Was Secured
The second open season for the western gateway pipeline ran from 16 January 2026, was extended beyond its original 31 March close date due to continued shipper interest, and formally closed on 15 April 2026. The extension was granted to allow prospective shippers additional time to complete commercial evaluations of the updated Transportation Services Agreement and secure internal approvals for remaining capacity on the system.
The first open season concluded in December 2025 with significant shipper interest and initial commitments. The second open season added new origin points for supply diversification and expanded the offered destinations — most notably adding access to the Los Angeles market via a joint tariff supported by the planned reversal of Kinder Morgan’s existing SFPP Watson to Colton, California line. The combined result of both open seasons is a committed shipper base sufficient to underpin the project’s financing and construction case.
Mark Lashier, Chairman and CEO of Phillips 66, described customer response during the open season as underscoring the importance of Western Gateway in addressing long-term refined products logistics needs in the region. Kim Dang, CEO of Kinder Morgan, confirmed the project’s ability to leverage existing pipeline assets across multiple states to support refined products transportation for Arizona and California markets.
Western Gateway Pipeline: Route and Infrastructure
The western gateway pipeline is a hybrid system combining new-build construction with reversed existing assets. The new-build section runs from Borger, Texas to Phoenix, Arizona. From Phoenix, Kinder Morgan’s existing SFPP LP pipeline from Colton, California to Phoenix will be reversed to enable east-to-west product flows into California — including access to the Los Angeles market. Connectivity to Las Vegas, Nevada will be provided via Kinder Morgan’s CALNEV Pipeline.
The supply feed into the system relies on a second reversal — Phillips 66’s Gold Pipeline, which currently transports refined products from Borger to St. Louis, will be reversed to move Midcontinent and Gulf Coast refinery supply back toward Borger, where it feeds the Western Gateway system westward. The combined infrastructure creates a new corridor for refined products from St. Louis to California, connecting Midwest and Gulf Coast refinery supply to markets that currently depend heavily on California in-state refining capacity.
At full capacity the system is designed to move up to 200,000 barrels per day of Midcontinent refined products into Arizona — replacing volumes currently sourced from California and increasing supply availability and flexibility for in-state Arizona markets. The project is targeting completion by 2029, subject to receipt of all permits and regulatory approvals.
Why the Western Gateway Pipeline Matters for West Coast Supply
California and Arizona refined products markets have historically been served by a limited number of supply routes, creating structural vulnerability to refinery outages, wildfires, and maintenance shutdowns that periodically spike regional fuel prices. The western gateway pipeline introduces a new supply corridor from the Midcontinent — the most prolific refining region in the US — directly into markets that have lacked direct access to that supply base.
For terminal operators in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, the pipeline’s completion would expand supply optionality and create new commercial flows into terminal infrastructure along the route. The project’s use of existing Kinder Morgan pipeline assets — SFPP and CALNEV — reduces the capital cost and permitting complexity of building an entirely new system, while the reversal of the Gold Pipeline leverages Phillips 66’s existing Midcontinent infrastructure without additional construction. For a ranked view of the North American pipeline sector, see the Top 10 Pipeline Companies North America 2026. Full project details are available at Phillips 66’s Western Gateway project page.
What is the Western Gateway Pipeline and who is developing it?
The Western Gateway Pipeline is a proposed refined products pipeline system being developed as a joint venture between Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan. It will connect Midwest and Gulf Coast refinery supply in Texas to markets in Phoenix, Arizona, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada, targeting completion by 2029.
What capacity will the Western Gateway Pipeline carry?
The system is designed to move up to 200,000 barrels per day of Midcontinent refined products into Arizona, with additional flows into California and Nevada markets via existing Kinder Morgan pipeline connections.
What happened in the Western Gateway Pipeline second open season?
The second open season ran from 16 January 2026 and was extended to 15 April 2026 due to continued shipper interest. It added new origin points and expanded destinations including Los Angeles market access. Combined with the first open season, sufficient long-term shipper commitments were secured to advance the project to development.
How does the Western Gateway Pipeline route work?
The system combines a new-build pipeline from Borger, Texas to Phoenix, Arizona with the reversal of Kinder Morgan’s existing SFPP pipeline from Colton to Phoenix for east-to-west California flows. Phillips 66’s Gold Pipeline from Borger to St. Louis will also be reversed to feed Midcontinent supply into the Western Gateway system.
When will the Western Gateway Pipeline be completed?
The project is targeting completion by 2029, subject to execution of definitive agreements, board approvals from both Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan, and receipt of all required permits and regulatory approvals.