ONEOK Partners has completed the first phase of the Roadrunner Gas Transmission pipeline project in West Texas, US.

Estimated to cost up to $480m, the project is an equal stake joint venture with Mexico City-based natural gas infrastructure firm Fermaca.

The 200-mile Roadrunner pipeline will link ONEOK Partners' existing WesTex natural gas pipeline system near Coyanosa, Texas, to a new international border-crossing connection at the US and Mexico border near San Elizario, Texas.

Phase one of the project will offer a capacity of 170m cubic feet per day (mmcf/d) to markets in Mexico and El Paso, Texas.

Phase two will expand the capacity of the pipeline to 570mmcf/d. Construction on this phase is currently underway, and is anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2017.

The third and final phase, due for completion in 2019, will further expand the pipeline’s capacity to 640mmcf/d.

ONEOK Partners president and CEO Terry Spencer said: "The addition of Roadrunner to our extensive natural gas pipeline infrastructure in West Texas positions ONEOK Partners to serve Mexico's rapidly expanding natural gas markets by connecting them with US producers in the Permian Basin."