Trout Run Pipeline Goes Operational, Seneca Wells Connect

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National Fuel Gas Midstream’s new Trout Run Gathering System (Lycoming County, PA) came online May 30 and is now delivering natural gas to the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line (Transco). Because the new pipeline is now operational, Seneca Resources has brought online four new wells. As of a few days ago, the wells were producing a combined 45 million cubic feet of gas per day.

National Fuel Gas’ press release:

National Fuel Gas Midstream Corporation (“NFG Midstream”), a wholly owned subsidiary of National Fuel Gas Company (“National Fuel” or the “Company”) has announced that the Trout Run Gathering System (“Trout Run”), located in Lycoming County, Pa., was placed in service on May 30, 2012, and is delivering natural gas to an interconnect with Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (“Transco”). Initial production is from four recently completed wells operated by Seneca Resources Corporation (“Seneca”), the wholly owned exploration and production subsidiary of National Fuel.

NFG Midstream’s Trout Run system currently consists of approximately 25 miles of mostly 20-inch high-pressure pipeline, associated facilities and an interconnection with the Transco pipeline system. Trout Run is designed to serve Marcellus producers, anchored by Seneca, with natural gas transportation capacity in excess of 450 million cubic feet (“MMcf”) per day. Additional facilities and gathering lines will be constructed as throughput increases.

As part of the completion of Trout Run, Seneca initiated production on a four-well pad located on its DCNR 100 tract in Lycoming County, Pa. As of June 11, 2012, these four wells are producing at a combined rate of approximately 45 MMcf per day of natural gas. Peak 24-hour production rates from these wells had a range of 10.1 to 15.7 MMcf per day. The wells were drilled with lateral lengths between 5,224 and 8,574 feet. A three-well pad is currently being completed and two Seneca-operated drilling rigs are active in the area. In addition to the four wells currently flowing into Trout Run, the tract has approximately 65 additional well locations.

David F. Smith, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of National Fuel, stated, “The completion of Trout Run in conjunction with initial production from Seneca’s Lycoming County wells is a testament to not only the Company’s integrated Appalachian development strategy, but also the hard work and dedication of our operational teams. The initial results from these wells confirm our belief that this acreage holds significant potential and will help drive production growth throughout the next several years. Additionally, with our two major gathering systems completed in Pennsylvania, we have built a foundation from which NFG Midstream can continue to expand its operations for not only Seneca, but other Appalachian producers as well.”*

*National Fuel Gas Company (Jun 14, 2012) – National Fuel Completes the Trout Run Gathering System and Announces New Marcellus Shale Well Results