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MPLX PA Bluestone Gas Processing Plant Gets Big Sloppy Kiss from EPA

Marathon Petroleum’s MPLX, formerly MarkWest, operates five complexes in the Marcellus shale. One of the five is the Bluestone Complex in Butler County, PA. Bluestone gathers 200 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of natural gas. Bluestone processes 400 MMcf/d of natural gas, separating methane from other hydrocarbons. The facility then further separates ethane (C2H6) from other NGLs like propane and butane in a process called C2+ fractionation—producing some 81,000 barrels per day. Yesterday, MPLX announced that the Bluestone plant has become the only U.S. natural gas processing facility to achieve the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry. Read More “MPLX PA Bluestone Gas Processing Plant Gets Big Sloppy Kiss from EPA”

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MPLX “Sweet Spot” is Processing M-U Rich Gas and Producing NGLs

Greg Floerke

In late 2015, MPLX (i.e., Marathon Petroleum) bought out and merged with the Utica Shale’s premier midstream company, MarkWest Energy, for $15 billion (see MarkWest Energy Investors/Unitholders Approve Merger with Marathon). The “new” MarkWest, aka MPLX, plays on a much larger stage now, including ownership and operation of major assets in the Permian Basin and the Bakken Shale, in addition to the Marcellus/Utica. However, the company’s first love, Marcellus/Utica, still plays a starring role. Greg Floerke, the executive vice president and COO of MPLX, sat for an interview with Hart Energy editorial director Jordan Blum at the company’s recent DUG Appalachia event in Pittsburgh. Read More “MPLX “Sweet Spot” is Processing M-U Rich Gas and Producing NGLs”

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MPLX to Build New Harmon Creek III Gas Processing in PA Marcellus

In late 2015, MPLX (i.e., Marathon Petroleum) bought out and merged in the Utica Shale’s premier midstream company, MarkWest Energy, for $15 billion (see MarkWest Energy Investors/Unitholders Approve Merger with Marathon). The “new” MarkWest, aka MPLX, plays on a much larger stage now, including ownership and operation of major assets in the Permian Basin and the Bakken Shale, in addition to the Marcellus/Utica. Yesterday, MPLX issued its third quarter 2024 update with some exciting news for the Marcellus: MPLX will add a 300 MMcf/d (million cubic feet per day) processing plant and 40,000 bpd (barrels per day) de-ethanizer to its Harmon Creek facility in southwestern Pennsylvania (Smith Township, Washington County). Read More “MPLX to Build New Harmon Creek III Gas Processing in PA Marcellus”

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Highlights from 2024 Shale Insight Event Held in Erie, PA

The SHALE INSIGHT® 2024 event was held from September 24 to 26 at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, PA. Attendees got an insider’s view from the nation’s foremost energy leaders and experts on shale development, environmental protection, pipeline investment, energy-driven manufacturing, and in-demand jobs. We brought you a few news items we noticed in mainstream media from the event, one about antis protesting outside the event (see The Lying Nun Makes an Appearance at Shale Insight Event), and another about which U.S. Senate candidate attended and which one snubbed the event (see U.S. Senate Candidate McCormick Addressed Shale Insight In Person). By all accounts, there were many excellent speeches and panel discussions. Today, we have highlights from the main stage. Read More “Highlights from 2024 Shale Insight Event Held in Erie, PA”

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MPLX 2Q – Bullish on the Marcellus and “Now the Utica”

In late 2015, MPLX (i.e., Marathon Petroleum) bought out and merged in the Utica Shale’s premier midstream company, MarkWest Energy, for $15 billion (see MarkWest Energy Investors/Unitholders Approve Merger with Marathon). The “new” MarkWest, aka MPLX, plays on a much larger stage now, including ownership and operation of major assets in the Permian Basin and in the Bakken Shale, in addition to the Marcellus/Utica. Last week, MPLX issued its second quarter 2024 update. During a conference call with analysts, MPLX’s COO Greg Floerke said this about the Marcellus and Utica: “…there is room for us to grow, and we’re still very bullish on the Marcellus and now the Utica.”
Read More “MPLX 2Q – Bullish on the Marcellus and “Now the Utica””

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Change at the Top of MPLX, the Former MarkWest Energy

Maryann T. Mannen

In late 2015, MPLX (i.e., Marathon Petroleum) bought out and merged in the Utica Shale’s premier midstream company, MarkWest Energy, for $15 billion (see MarkWest Energy Investors/Unitholders Approve Merger with Marathon). The “new” MarkWest, aka MPLX, plays on a much larger stage now, including ownership and operation of major assets in the Permian Basin and in the Bakken Shale, in addition to the Marcellus/Utica. Big news: MPLX CEO Mike Hennigan is stepping back and will be succeeded by Maryann T. Mannen, currently President of Marathon Petroleum.
Read More “Change at the Top of MPLX, the Former MarkWest Energy”

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MPLX 1Q – Marcellus Gathered Volumes Increase 10% Over 2023

In late 2015, MPLX (i.e., Marathon Petroleum) bought out and merged in the Utica Shale’s premier midstream company, MarkWest Energy, for $15 billion (see MarkWest Energy Investors/Unitholders Approve Merger with Marathon). The “new” MarkWest, aka MPLX, plays on a much larger stage now, including ownership and operation of major assets in the Permian Basin and in the Bakken Shale, in addition to the Marcellus/Utica. Yesterday, MPLX issued its first quarter 2024 update. During the conference call with analysts, MPLX executives said the Marcellus is the company’s largest basin for gathering and processing. MPLX saw year-over-year volume increases of 10% for gathering and 7% for processing in the Marcellus, “driven by increased drilling and production growth.” That’s a bit of good news we weren’t expecting.
Read More “MPLX 1Q – Marcellus Gathered Volumes Increase 10% Over 2023”

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Summit Midstream Sells Utica Pipeline Assets to MPLX for $625M

Summit Midstream Partners, LP, which owns midstream (pipeline) assets in a number of major plays across the country, including the Marcellus/Utica, announced on Friday the sale of the company’s Ohio Utica assets, including its Summit Midstream Utica, LLC subsidiary, which includes its approximately 36% interest in Ohio Gathering Company, approximately 38% interest in Ohio Condensate Company, and other wholly-owned Utica assets. The sale was made to a subsidiary of MPLX LP (i.e., MarkWest Energy) for $625 million in cash. Summit will no longer own Utica assets in Ohio, but the company WILL retain (for now) its Marcellus assets in West Virginia.
Read More “Summit Midstream Sells Utica Pipeline Assets to MPLX for $625M”

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Appalachian Methane Initiative Concludes 2023 Test, Expands in 2024

In January 2023, three Marcellus/Utica companies — Chesapeake Energy, EQT, and Equitrans Midstream — launched the Appalachian Methane Initiative (AMI), a coalition committed to further enhancing methane monitoring throughout the Appalachia Basin and reducing methane emissions throughout the region (see EQT, Chessy, Equitrans Form M-U Methane Monitoring Club). The initial pilot campaign from 2023 is done, and the results are in (below). In addition, four more M-U companies are joining the original three for the 2024 campaign.
Read More “Appalachian Methane Initiative Concludes 2023 Test, Expands in 2024”

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MPLX Says Market “Underappreciates” Growth Potential in Marcellus

In late 2015, MPLX (i.e., Marathon Petroleum) bought out and merged in the Utica Shale’s premier midstream company, MarkWest Energy, for $15 billion (see MarkWest Energy Investors/Unitholders Approve Merger with Marathon). The “new” MarkWest, aka MPLX, plays on a much larger stage now, including ownership and operation of major assets in the Permian Basin and in the Bakken Shale, in addition to the Marcellus/Utica. Last week, MPLX issued its fourth quarter 2023 update. MPLX Chairman and CEO Michael Hennigan had an interesting comment during a conference call: “I think the market is underappreciating the growth potential up in the Marcellus.”
Read More “MPLX Says Market “Underappreciates” Growth Potential in Marcellus”

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MPLX 2Q – Harmon II Processing Plant Coming Online in 1H24

In late 2015, MPLX (i.e., Marathon Petroleum) bought out and merged in the Utica Shale’s premier midstream company, MarkWest Energy, for $15 billion (see MarkWest Energy Investors/Unitholders Approve Merger with Marathon). The “new” MarkWest, aka MPLX, plays on a much larger stage now, including ownership and operation of major assets in the Permian Basin and in the Bakken Shale, in addition to the Utica/Marcellus. However, most of MPLX’s activity (and revenue) comes from the M-U. Yesterday MPLX issued its second quarter 2023 update.
Read More “MPLX 2Q – Harmon II Processing Plant Coming Online in 1H24”

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MarkWest Mails Spill Cleanup Notice to Wrong Township in SWPA

tempest in a teapot

In late December 2022, piping at the MarkWest Imperial Compressor Station in Robinson Township, Washington County, PA, froze during Winter Storm Elliot. The frozen line burst, spilling roughly 10,000 gallons of condensate on the ground. On May 23, 2023, MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC submitted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) to clean up soil and groundwater contaminated by the spill. MarkWest’s consultant Tetra Tech sent a copy of the notice to Robinson Township–except they sent it to the WRONG Robinson Township.
Read More “MarkWest Mails Spill Cleanup Notice to Wrong Township in SWPA”

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PA AG Indicts 2 Workers for Conspiracy, Fraud re MarkWest Pipeline

On Friday, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced her office has filed criminal charges against two men for falsifying paperwork and risking catastrophe while working on a natural gas pipeline project in western PA. The AG’s Environmental Crime Section and the US Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General investigated a case of suspected fraud in falsifying records for portions of a MarkWest Liberty Pipeline to transport NGLs.
Read More “PA AG Indicts 2 Workers for Conspiracy, Fraud re MarkWest Pipeline”

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MPLX 1Q – Harmon II Processing Plant Coming Online in 2024

In late 2015, MPLX (i.e. Marathon Petroleum) bought out and merged in the Utica Shale’s premier midstream company, MarkWest Energy, for $15 billion (see MarkWest Energy Investors/Unitholders Approve Merger with Marathon). The “new” MarkWest, aka MPLX, plays on a much larger stage now, including ownership and operation of major assets in the Permian Basin and in the Bakken Shale, in addition to the Utica/Marcellus. However, most of MPLX’s activity (and revenue) comes from the M-U. Yesterday MPLX issued its first quarter 2023 update.
Read More “MPLX 1Q – Harmon II Processing Plant Coming Online in 2024”

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Biden DOJ, EPA Announce $25M “Settlement” with Williams, Others

Yesterday the Bidenistas at the Dept. of (In)Justice (DOJ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a “settlement” (i.e. bullying) with three pipeline companies–Williams, MPLX, and Kerr-McGee Gathering. The settlement requires the three to pay a combined $9.25 million in civil penalties and make improvements at 25 gas processing plants and 91 compressor stations in 12 states, including Ohio and West Virginia, worth another $16 million. The two federal agencies claimed the pipeline companies were violating federal and state clean air laws related to leak detection and repair (LDAR) requirements for natural gas processing plants at various facilities they own and operate across the country.
Read More “Biden DOJ, EPA Announce $25M “Settlement” with Williams, Others”

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MPLX (former MarkWest) Reports Gathering & Processing Less M-U Gas

In late 2015, MPLX (i.e. Marathon Petroleum) bought out and merged in the Utica Shale’s premier midstream company, MarkWest Energy, for $15 billion (see MarkWest Energy Investors/Unitholders Approve Merger with Marathon). The “new” MarkWest, aka MPLX, plays on a much larger stage now, including ownership and operation of major assets in the Permian Basin and in the Bakken Shale, in addition to the Utica/Marcellus. On Tuesday, MPLX issued its fourth quarter and full-year 2022 update. The company reports gathering and processing slightly less natgas in the M-U in 2022. But it was a comment from MPLX’s CEO during a conference call that really hit us in the gut.
Read More “MPLX (former MarkWest) Reports Gathering & Processing Less M-U Gas”