In a time of war, the U.S. has now become the world’s largest crude oil exporter, surfing a wave of 50% higher prices depending on the day. Meanwhile in the Permian, there’s an infrastructure crisis preventing record volumes of natural gas to reach demand centers and Gulf Coast export markets when gas has never been needed most. In the simplest terms, natural gas has eaten dirt burgers for 124 of the last 131 days with the Waha Hub trading in negative territory. This has forced E&Ps Permian Resources Corp., Devon Energy, and others to shut in wells, while other producers flare excess gas to allow for more pipeline capacity to flow crude. Then there’s Matador Resources with a different idea.

Reese Energy Consulting today is following the latest from Dallas-based Matador—a long attractive acquisition target in the Permian—which has saddled up with Dallas neighbor Energy Transfer. The two have signed a series of natural gas and NGL agreements ahead of ET’s startup in 4Q of the 442-mile Hugh Brinson Pipeline, stretching from West Texas to south of the DFW metroplex to supply gas to data centers and power plants.

According to Pipeline & Gas Journal, “The agreements include a gas supply arrangement that will help Matador reduce exposure to Waha Hub pricing in the second half of 2026 while providing Energy Transfer with additional supply for growing power generation and data center demand.” Once in service, the Hugh Brinson is expected to flow up to 1.5 BCFD out of the Permian.