(by Paul Vivian and Rick Preckel, www.prestonpipe.com) – Market Monitor – Join us, and our sponsors: Steel Dynamics, ArcelorMittal, Fuchs Lubricants, Texas Steel Conversion, and Friedman Tubular on October 8 in Houston for the 10th Annual OCTG and Line Pipe Forecasting Summit. Register here. WhiteWater announced in mid-August that it, together with Devon Energy Corporation, MPLX LP, Diamondback Energy, Inc., and Western Midstream Partners, LP, through their Solitude Pipeline System joint venture, reached a positive FID to construct two 48-inch natural gas pipelines, each running from the Permian Basin to Katy, TX. The project has secured substantial long-term firm transportation agreements with predominantly investment-grade shippers to support the FID. Solitude will deliver scalable, long-haul natural gas transportation to support Permian Basin growth and expanding Gulf Coast consumption. The joint venture’s pipeline system will provide initial capacity of approximately 2.25 Bcf/d in late 2029, and an additional 2.25 Bcf/d in 2030 with the ability to increase capacity thereafter to accommodate shipper demand. Capacity commissioning can be accelerated or deferred to align with evolving market dynamics. Solitude is expected to enter service in the second half of 2029, subject to receipt of customary regulatory and other approvals. Tex-Tube announced a line pipe price increase effective immediately for new orders of $100/ton. Wheatland also raised line pipe prices by $80/ton in early September. Rising steel costs and tightening steel supplies are to blame.