3 June 2013

MarkWest Utica EMG develops Utica Shale midstream system in US

US-based MarkWest Utica EMG, a joint venture of MarkWest Energy Partners and The Energy and Minerals Group (EMG), has announced plans to expand its large-scale midstream system in the southern core of the Utica Shale in the country.

The expansion will allow the company to enhance drilling programmes at Antero Resources and Gulfport Energy.

As part of the expansion, the company will build a third cryogenic gas processing facility at its Seneca processing complex in Noble County, Ohio, which will add 200 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMcf/d).

The first two plants in the complex are expected to start operations in the fourth quarter of 2013, while production from the three processing plants is expected to add 600MMcf/d.

The Seneca processing complex will support gas production from different producers, such as Antero, Gulfport, Rex Energy, PDC Energy and Consol Energy.

"We are committed to providing our producer customers with fully-integrated midstream infrastructure and award winning customer service in one of America’s most exciting emerging resource plays."

The Seneca III facility will support gas production from Antero and is expected to be operational in early second quarter of 2014.

The company is also expanding the capacity of the Cadiz complex in Harrison County in Ohio, which currently has a 185MMcf/d processing capacity, which includes a 60MMcf/d interim refrigeration plant.

The capacity at the Cadiz plant will increase to 325MMcf/d with the addition of Cadiz II, a 200MMcf/d plant by mid-2014.

MarkWest Utica EMG expects to hold 300 miles of gathering pipeline and five processing facilities by mid-2014, which will add one billion cubic feet of gas per day and 100,000 barrels of oil per day (Bbl/d).

MarkWest Energy Partners chairman, president and CEO Frank Semple said the company is developing premier midstream solutions in the southern core of the Utica shale for operators such as Antero and Gulfport.

"Together with our joint venture partner EMG, we are committed to providing our producer customers with fully-integrated midstream infrastructure and award winning customer service in one of America’s most exciting emerging resource plays," Semple added.

Image: MarkWest Utica EMG will build a third cryogenic gas processing facility at its Seneca processing complex in Noble County, Ohio. Photo: Courtesy of Hugh Chevallier.