Phillips 66 sets $2.4bn investment budget for 2026

The US energy group plans to allocate $1.3bn to growth and $1.1bn to asset maintenance, with a specific focus on natural gas liquids and refining projects.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Phillips 66 has announced a consolidated capital investment budget of $2.4bn for 2026, split between $1.3bn for growth projects and $1.1bn dedicated to sustaining capital. The company stated that this allocation reflects its commitment to financial discipline while ensuring safe and reliable operations across its core segments.

Focus on midstream assets

In the midstream segment, the budget totals $1.1bn, including $400mn for sustaining projects and $700mn for growth initiatives. These investments align with Phillips 66’s integrated strategy to strengthen the natural gas liquids (NGL) value chain from wellhead to market. Funded projects include the construction of the Iron Mesa unit in the Permian Basin — a gas processing facility with a capacity of 300 million cubic feet per day, expected to begin operations in the first quarter of 2027.

The Coastal Bend NGL pipeline expansion, which will connect production from the Permian and Eagle Ford basins to fractionation facilities in Corpus Christi and Sweeny, is set to increase capacity from 225,000 to 350,000 barrels per day. The project is expected to come online in the fourth quarter of 2026. A new fractionator in Corpus Christi, with a capacity of 100,000 barrels per day, is also planned. A final investment decision is expected in early 2026, with commissioning scheduled for 2028.

Refining: targeted projects and upgrades

The refining segment will receive approximately $1.1bn, including $590mn for maintenance and $520mn for growth projects. The group plans a gasoline quality improvement project at its Humber site in the United Kingdom, aimed at producing higher-value fuel for global markets. Start-up is targeted for the second quarter of 2027.

Additionally, more than 100 low-capital, high-return projects are scheduled, focused on improving crude flexibility, optimising feedstocks, and increasing clean product yields.

Spending across other segments and joint ventures

Marketing and Specialties will receive $80mn, divided between $30mn for maintenance and $50mn for growth. Renewable fuels will receive $40mn, with limited but targeted investments. The “Corporate and Other” line item is allocated $40mn, fully dedicated to maintenance.

Phillips 66’s share of capital expenditures for its joint venture, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC (CPChem), amounts to $680mn, fully self-funded. This includes $200mn for sustaining capital and $480mn for growth projects. CPChem is continuing construction of world-scale petrochemical units on the US Gulf Coast and in Ras Laffan, Qatar, with start-up expected in 2026 and early 2027 respectively.

BUTEC has finalised the financing of a 50 MW emergency power project in Burkina Faso, structured under a BOOT contract and backed by Banque Centrale Populaire Group.
BW Energy has signed a long-term lease agreement with Minsheng Financial Leasing for its Maromba B platform, covering $274mn of the project’s CAPEX, with no payments due before first oil.
Shell will restart offshore exploration on Namibia’s PEL 39 block in April 2026 with a five-well drilling programme targeting previously discovered zones, despite a recent $400mn impairment.
Iranian authorities intercepted a vessel suspected of fuel smuggling off the coast of the Gulf of Oman, with 18 South Asian crew members on board, according to official sources.
Harbour Energy will acquire Waldorf Energy Partners’ North Sea assets for $170mn, increasing its stakes in the Catcher and Kraken fields, while Capricorn Energy settles part of its claims.
The Big Beautiful Gulf 1 sale attracted more than $300mn in investments, with a focused strategy led by BP, Chevron and Woodside on high-yield blocks.
The United States intercepted an oil tanker loaded with Venezuelan crude and imposed new sanctions on maritime entities, increasing pressure on Nicolas Maduro’s regime and its commercial networks in the Caribbean.
OPEC expects crude demand from its members to reach 43 million barrels per day in 2026, nearly matching current OPEC+ output, contrasting with oversupply forecasts from other institutions.
The United States seized a vessel suspected of transporting sanctioned oil from Iran and Venezuela, prompting a strong reaction from Nicolás Maduro's government.
The International Energy Agency lowers its global oil supply forecast for 2026 while slightly raising demand growth expectations amid improved macroeconomic conditions.
South Sudanese authorities have been granted responsibility for securing the strategic Heglig oilfield following an agreement with both warring parties in Sudan.
TotalEnergies acquires a 40% operated interest in the offshore PEL83 license, marking a strategic move in Namibia with the Mopane oil field, while Galp secures stakes in two other promising blocks.
BOURBON will provide maritime services to ExxonMobil Guyana for five years starting in 2026, marking a key step in the logistical development of the Guyanese offshore basin.
Viridien has launched a 4,300 sq km seismic reimaging programme over Angola’s offshore block 22 to support the country’s upcoming licensing round in the Kwanza Basin.
Shell restructures its stake in the Caspian pipeline by exiting the joint venture with Rosneft, with Kremlin approval, to comply with sanctions while maintaining access to Kazakh crude.
Shell acquires 60% of Block 2C in the Orange Basin, commits to drilling three wells and paying a $25mn signing bonus to PetroSA, pending regulatory approval in South Africa.
Malgré la pression exercée sur le gouvernement vénézuélien, Washington ne cherche pas à exclure Caracas de l’OPEP, misant sur une influence indirecte au sein du cartel pour défendre ses intérêts énergétiques.
Kazakhstan redirects part of its oil production to China following the drone attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal, without a full export halt.
US investment bank Xtellus Partners has submitted a plan to the US Treasury to recover frozen Lukoil holdings for investors by selling the Russian company’s international assets.
Ghanaian company Cybele Energy has signed a $17mn exploration deal in Guyana’s shallow offshore waters, targeting a block estimated to contain 400 million barrels and located outside disputed territorial zones.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.