Uinta Basin producers are beginning to increase activity ahead of another step-up in the basin’s crude takeaway capacity.
Energy Transfer’s (ET) Price River Terminal expansion (55% ownership) is due to come online in 4Q26. The project will add new rail loading facilities, including a continuous loop track, a railcar load rack capable of handling 140 Mb/d, nine new loading arms, four additional truck offload lanes and upgraded pumping capacity. The project will also add ~120 Mbbl of heated storage capacity and two new 6,000-foot storage tracks.
ET’s latest investor presentation shows the expansion is on track to start in 4Q26, although Utah permitting remains in the final review stage for approval.
The Price River expansion will add new rail takeaway alongside Wildcat Midstream’s nearby terminal expansion near Helper, UT. Wildcat plans to add unloading bays, upgrade its loading system and build a dedicated tank farm, increasing terminal capacity from roughly 20 Mb/d to 100 Mb/d.
East Daley Analytics’ rig data shows the Uinta Basin gaining momentum ahead of the new expansion. Producer activity ramped from 11 rigs in late April to 15 by the end of August, including increased activity from FourPoint Resources. FourPoint has an agreement with ET to take 50 Mb/d of capacity in the expanded terminal.
Higher crude oil prices are also supporting production growth in the Uinta, while the basin’s waxy crude has become attractive to certain refiners due to its low-sulfur, high-paraffinic composition and strong middle-distillate yields. Uinta crude is well suited for producing diesel and jet fuel through hydrocracking, an increasingly valuable characteristic as margins for both products have expanded in 2026 amid tight global distillate supplies.
These factors have pushed Uinta railing volumes higher, reaching 115 Mb/d in June (see figure above). The Price River expansion will add to railing momentum heading into 2027.
See East Daley’s Crude Hub Model for more information. With drilling activity rising and new rail capacity nearing completion, the Uinta is positioned for further steady production growth. Additional takeaway should give producers more flexibility to move incremental barrels beyond the local Utah market. – Keland Rumsey Tickers: ET.
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