Thursday, September 02, 2010

Midstream Service Company Wins Long Term Contract

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD 37.51, +0.02, +0.05%) today announced that its operating subsidiaries have entered into long-term agreements with EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG 89.93, -0.01, -0.01%) to provide a comprehensive package of midstream energy services that will service EOG's growing crude oil and associated liquids-rich natural gas production in the prolific Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. As part of the arrangements, Enterprise will utilize its existing assets and build additional infrastructure to provide EOG with a full range of value-added midstream services for its Eagle Ford production, including crude oil transportation, storage and exchange; natural gas transportation, treating and processing; and natural gas liquids (NGL) transportation and fractionation.

"We are very pleased to contract with EOG, a leader in the development of the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas," said Michael A. Creel, President and Chief Executive Officer. "EOG's need for crude oil, natural gas and NGL midstream services clearly illustrates the advantage of an integrated midstream network with access to attractive markets to maximize the value of its Eagle Ford Shale production."

"The South Texas Eagle Ford has the potential to be one of the largest crude oil discoveries in the United States including the Deep Water Gulf of Mexico, in the last 40 years and we believe we have captured 900 million barrels of oil equivalent, net on our 505,000 net acreage position in the play. Contracting with Enterprise, which brings a comprehensive program of midstream services, is a strategic move for EOG in marketing our production," said Mark G. Papa, EOG's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

As part of its long-term agreements, Enterprise will construct a 140-mile pipeline originating in northwestern Karnes County to transport EOG's crude oil production from the Eagle Ford Shale. The pipeline will extend to its existing crude oil system in Austin County where it will connect to the partnership's Sealy Station. The pipeline, which is anchored by a 10-year, firm transportation agreement with EOG, offers the flexibility to access the Houston refinery market or the Enterprise-operated Seaway Pipeline system that provides a direct link to Cushing, Oklahoma, a major domestic crude oil storage and trading hub. With a capacity of approximately 350,000 barrels per day (BPD), the crude oil pipeline will be large enough not only to meet EOG's requirements, but to accommodate other Eagle Ford producers, many of which are currently in discussions with Enterprise.

Enterprise plans to build central delivery points for receiving crude oil from trucks and gathering pipelines at multiple locations along the crude oil pipeline route. Completion of the crude oil pipeline project is expected in the first quarter of 2012. In the interim, Enterprise is providing crude oil transportation services via trucks until the pipeline is in service.

Enterprise will also provide firm natural gas transportation and processing, as well as NGL transportation and fractionation services to EOG, anchored by seven-year contracts. In support of this initiative, Enterprise has committed to the construction of 52 miles of additional pipeline laterals to complement its previously announced Eagle Ford rich natural gas mainline project. In addition to rich and lean natural gas transportation capabilities, Enterprise will provide EOG with natural gas processing services at the partnership's planned cryogenic gas processing facility. With an initial capacity of 600 million cubic feet per day, the new processing plant is projected to be in service in mid 2012. The NGLs recovered from EOG's natural gas volumes at the new plant will be transported through Enterprise's recently announced 127-mile, 12-inch diameter NGL pipeline to its Mont Belvieu complex where Enterprise will construct a fifth NGL fractionator. Prior to the completion of these new gas processing and NGL facilities, Enterprise will utilize existing capacity in its integrated network of South Texas infrastructure to process EOG's natural gas and to transport and fractionate the NGLs recovered from EOG's natural gas production.

Activity in the Eagle Ford Shale continues to exceed industry expectations as more than 90 rigs working in the play have drilled more than 175 wells to date. Current production from the play is estimated at approximately 300 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and 40,000 BPD of crude oil and condensate.

"Our broad footprint of assets in the Eagle Ford Shale provides us with the foundation to develop infrastructure with the size and scope to meet the needs of producers, and gives Enterprise a competitive advantage in pursuing other opportunities in this growing area," Mr. Creel said.

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. is the largest publicly traded energy partnership and a leading North American provider of midstream energy services to producers and consumers of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil, refined products and petrochemicals. The partnership's assets include: 49,100 miles of onshore and offshore pipelines; approximately 200 million barrels of storage capacity for NGLs, refined products and crude oil; and 27 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage capacity. Services include: natural gas transportation, gathering, processing and storage; NGL fractionation, transportation, storage, and import and export terminaling; crude oil and refined products; offshore production platform services; petrochemical transportation and storage; and a marine transportation business that operates primarily on the United States inland and Intracoastal Waterway systems and in the Gulf of Mexico. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. is managed by its general partner, Enterprise Products GP LLC, which is wholly owned by Enterprise GP Holdings L.P. (EPE 48.90, +0.54, +1.12%) . For more information on Enterprise GP Holdings L.P., visit www.enterprisegp.com.

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein that address activities, events or developments or transactions that Enterprise expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including anticipated benefits and other aspects of such activities, events, developments or transactions, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including required approvals by regulatory agencies, the possibility that the anticipated benefits from such activities, events, developments or transactions cannot be fully realized, the possibility that costs or difficulties related thereto will be greater than expected, the impact of competition and other risk factors included in the reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Enterprise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. Except as required by law, Enterprise does not intend to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE: Enterprise Products Partners L.P.

1 comment:

Eagle Ford Lease Information said...

This is a huge step forward towards rapid development of the Eagle Ford. Infrastructure development all along the trend is going to occur on a fast track pace. The change on the face of the land will be absolutely stunning. The number of extraordinary oil producing wells that will be drilled is in the thousands. Many, many, new millionaires will be made in the near future. Those who signed early leases are heart sick today at what they left on the table.