MarkWest Energy

Belmont County | EMG | Energy Services | Guernsey County | Harrison County | Industrywide Issues | M&A | MarkWest Energy | Noble County | Ohio | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Summit Midstream

Summit Midstream Cuts $377M Check for 40% of Ohio Gathering
June 4, 2014June 4, 2014

Ohio Gathering is a midstream (pipelines and processing plants) company operating in the southeastern Ohio area–Harrison, Guernsey, Belmont, Noble and Monroe counties. It is a joint venture owned by MarkWest, EMG and until recently, Gulfport Energy. In January MDN told you that Summit Midstream would be buying Gulfport’s 40% ownership interest (see Summit Midstream Closes Deal to Buy 40% Stake in Ohio Gathering). These things take time with lots of lawyers and due dillgence and enough paperwork to re-paper the walls in a dozen homes. The paperwork is done and Summit has cut the check–a $377 million check that will go into the bank account of MarkWest and EMG…
Read More “Summit Midstream Cuts $377M Check for 40% of Ohio Gathering”
Accidents | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Marshall County | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Washington County | West Virginia

MarkWest Washington, PA Plant Struck by Lightening Reopens
June 3, 2014June 3, 2014

At 6:00 pm last Wednesday night lightening struck the MarkWest Energy gas processing complex in Chartiers (Washington County), PA, otherwise known as the Houston complex (see Lightening Strike at MarkWest Chartiers Plant Causes Evacuation). The strike caused a small fire and an evacuation of residents living in the area. MarkWest announced yesterday the complex has been reopened–most of it anyway. Plant III is still closed pending repairs, so in the meantime, MarkWest is rerouting some incoming gas to their complex in Majorsville, WV…
Read More “MarkWest Washington, PA Plant Struck by Lightening Reopens”
Butler County | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Rex Energy

MarkWest Beefs Up Bluestone Plant in NWPA – Mostly for Rex Energy
June 3, 2014June 3, 2014

Good news for drillers in northwestern Pennsylvania–particularly Rex Energy. MarkWest announced yesterday they doubled the processing capacity at their Bluestone plant in Butler County, PA. The Bluestone II plant is now online and operating and processing an additional 120 million cubic feet of gas per day. In addition to the new plant, MarkWest has added ethane and heavier fractionation capabilities to the original Bluestone plant–20,000 barrels per day. And they’ve completed a 32-mile ethane pipeline which connects to the Mariner West pipeline, flowing ethane all the way to Sarnia, Ontario…
Read More “MarkWest Beefs Up Bluestone Plant in NWPA – Mostly for Rex Energy”
Accidents | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Range Resources Corp | Washington County

Range Update on MarkWest Houston Processing Plant Outage
June 2, 2014June 2, 2014

MDN has been following the story of the lightening strike at the MarkWest Chartiers gas processing plant in Washington County, PA last week that closed the plant (see Lightening Strike at MarkWest Chartiers Plant Causes Evacuation and MarkWest Update on Still-Closed PA Plant After Lightening Strike). The plant is still closed and so Range Resources, one of the primary customers of the plant, issued a statement…
Read More “Range Update on MarkWest Houston Processing Plant Outage”
Accidents | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Washington County

MarkWest Update on Still-Closed PA Plant After Lightening Strike
May 30, 2014May 30, 2014

Wednesday evening around 6:00 lightening struck the MarkWest gas processing plant in southwestern PA at Chartiers (see Lightening Strike at MarkWest Chartiers Plant Causes Evacuation). Yesterday MarkWest issued the following update about the incident…
Read More “MarkWest Update on Still-Closed PA Plant After Lightening Strike”
Accidents | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Washington County

Lightening Strike at MarkWest Chartiers Plant Causes Evacuation
May 29, 2014May 29, 2014

Around 6:00 pm last night lighting struck a release valve at the MarkWest gas processing plant in Chartiers Township (Washington County), PA. It caused a small fire that was quickly extinguished. However, the valve remained opened for a short period after the plant was shut down which allowed some natural gas to leak, creating a “plume” or cloud of gas near the plant. MarkWest, in what they say was “an abundance of caution,” asked about 50 residents living near the plant to evacuate. The residents were back in their homes by 10 pm…
Read More “Lightening Strike at MarkWest Chartiers Plant Causes Evacuation”
Energy Services | MarkWest Energy

MarkWest Energy 1Q14: Earnings Up 33%, Focus on Marcellus/Utica
May 8, 2014May 8, 2014

MarkWest Energy released their first quarter 2014 update yesterday. As MDN pointed out just yesterday, MarkWest currently has 17 major pipeline and processing plant projects under way in the Marcellus and Utica, of the 17 they intend to complete 11 of them by the end of this year (see MarkWest Announces 2 Processing Plant Expansions in WV, 400 Mmcf/d). From yesterday’s update we learn that earnings were up 33% over the same quarter last year. Although MarkWest operates in other areas of the country, yesterday’s update makes it obvious that most of their assets–and focus–are on the Marcellus and Utica Shale region.

Here’s yesterday’s update with a rundown of what’s happening with their projects in the Marcellus and Utica:
Read More “MarkWest Energy 1Q14: Earnings Up 33%, Focus on Marcellus/Utica”
Antero Resources | Doddridge County | Energy Companies | Energy Services | EQT Corp | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Processing Plants | West Virginia | Wetzel County

MarkWest Announces 2 Processing Plant Expansions in WV, 400 Mmcf/d
May 7, 2014May 7, 2014

Yesterday MarkWest Energy, arguably the biggest midstream company in the Marcellus and Utica Shale, announced it will expand two of its existing natural gas processing plants, both plants in West Virginia. At the request of Antero Resources, MarkWest will expand the Sherwood plant in Doddridge County by an extra 200 million cubic feet per day (Mmcf/d) of processing capacity. At the request of EQT, MarkWest will expand the processing capacity at the Mobley plant in Wetzel County by an additional 200 Mmcf/d. It means that Marcellus drillers are confident enough to bet big money on long-term contracts with MarkWest that the amount of gas they’re producing is going up–for years to come.

In yesterday’s announcement MarkWest noted that they currently have 17 major projects under way in the Marcellus/Utica, and that 11 of those projects will be completed this year. Here’s the details on the Sherwood and Mobley expansions…
Read More “MarkWest Announces 2 Processing Plant Expansions in WV, 400 Mmcf/d”
Energy Services | MarkWest Energy

MarkWest Energy Board Change: Bailey Retiring, Bruckmann Joining
April 25, 2014April 25, 2014

A change on the way to the board of directors for MarkWest Energy–arguably the biggest midstream player in the Marcellus/Utica region. MarkWest announced today that Keith Bailey is retiring from the board in June. In his place MarkWest is putting forward for nomination William Bruckmann III, currently a consultant but formerly with Williams. Here’s the announcement:
Read More “MarkWest Energy Board Change: Bailey Retiring, Bruckmann Joining”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Supply Chain

MarkWest Orders 70 Cat Gas Compressor Engines for Marcellus/Utica
April 3, 2014April 3, 2014

Caterpillar has scored one of the largest orders it has ever seen for its Cat® G3600 engines from MarkWest Energy–for use in the Marcellus and Utica Shale region. Yesterday Caterpillar Oil & Gas announced MarkWest has ordered 70 G3600 engines, which will be built in Cat’s Lafayette, IN plant. The engines are powered by natural gas and will be used in MarkWest compressor stations and processing plants.

This order, representing millions of dollars and numerous jobs, is just one more example of how shale drilling benefits everyone across the country–not just landowners and the drilling industry. Below is the press release from Caterpillar with more details, including other vendors that will be involved in assembling these “compression packages” for MarkWest, along with a news report from Lafayette, excited to have this huge new order…
Read More “MarkWest Orders 70 Cat Gas Compressor Engines for Marcellus/Utica”
Energy Services | MarkWest Energy

MarkWest Line of Credit Extension – Can Now Borrow up to $1.3B
March 21, 2014March 21, 2014

With dense financial talk about amendments, maturities and accordion options, MarkWest announced yesterday that they’ve bumped up the borrowing limit on their line of credit at the bank. They can now borrow up to $1.3 billion and not have to pay it back until 2019. And MarkWest is likely going to need every penny as they continue their rapid (and necessary) expansion in the Marcellus and Utica Shale.

MarkWest remains the region’s largest midstream company. Here’s their “we got an extension to our credit line” announcement from yesterday:
Read More “MarkWest Line of Credit Extension – Can Now Borrow up to $1.3B”
Energy Services | MarkWest Energy

MarkWest PowerPoint Preso – Really Cool Slides, Worth Your Time
February 28, 2014February 28, 2014

Yesterday MDN highlighted the official financial and operating update from MarkWest for 2013 (see MarkWest’s Banner 2013, Plans for 2014). Also happening yesterday that we’re reporting on today, was the inevitable investor phone call with top MarkWest management. In the past MarkWest has produced some great PowerPoint presentations, loaded with useful information. They didn’t disappoint this time around either. Below is a copy of the newest PowerPoint slide deck from yesterday’s investor call, along with a transcript of MarkWest CEO Frank Semple talking his way through the slides.

Although you’ll want to review the entire slide deck, here are our favorite slides…
Read More “MarkWest PowerPoint Preso – Really Cool Slides, Worth Your Time”
Energy Services | MarkWest Energy

MarkWest’s Banner 2013, Plans for 2014
February 27, 2014February 27, 2014

MarkWest Energy, as we’ve noted many times before, is probably the biggest midstream company in the Marcellus and Utica Shale. It’s always a contest between MarkWest and Williams, but if we’d have to choose one, we’d say MarkWest is has more of a presence in the northeast. Yesterday the company issued their fourth quarter and full year results for 2013 (in the ongoing parade of such announcements). The company notes that with the completion of several important new processing plants they now are processing over 2.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of dry and wet gas throughout the Marcellus and Utica Shale region. In addition to the facilities already built, MarkWest has an eye-popping 19 additional major processing and fractionation facilities under construction in the Northeast. They are pouring billions each year into the Marcellus/Utica.

Here is MarkWest’s look back at an incredible 2013, and a look forward to some of the good things coming in 2014…
Read More “MarkWest’s Banner 2013, Plans for 2014”
Economic Impact | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

MarkWest: 7 New NE Plants Online in Past 4 Mos, 17 More Coming!
January 31, 2014January 31, 2014

There are a number of midstream (pipeline and processing plants) companies operating in the Marcellus and Utica region. The country’s largest midstream company, Kinder Morgan, increasingly has a presence in the region. Joint ventures of various kinds, like Blue Racer Midstream (Dominion and Caiman Energy) are important new–and big–players. Williams Partners is one of the biggest. But if we had to identify which midstream company has the most assets, the most presence in the region, we’d have to say it’s MarkWest Energy. Yesterday MarkWest issued an operational update on their Marcellus and Utica projects–and frankly, it’s really impressive. This is a “time to crow about what we’ve done and will do” update. They’ve earned the right.

Over the past four months MarkWest has brought seven new, major projects online: 5 new cryogenic processing plants (separates wet gas into two streams, methane and NGLs), and 2 new fractionation plants (further separates the NGLs into their components, like ethane, butane and propane). Each one of these projects represents hundreds of millions of dollars of investment and hundreds of jobs. Here’s the kicker: MarkWest has another 17 major processing and fractionation projects under construction! Incredible. Below is the update issued yesterday by MarkWest which identifies many of projects and customers. It’s well worth your time to read:
Read More “MarkWest: 7 New NE Plants Online in Past 4 Mos, 17 More Coming!”
Blue Racer Midstream | Economic Impact | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Pipelines | Processing Plants

Blue Racer Exec Says NE Midstream Needs Another $30B+ Investment
January 31, 2014January 31, 2014

Blue Racer Midstream CEO Jack Lafield spoke at the Hart Energy Marcellus-Utica Midstream Conference and Exhibition in Pittsburgh yesterday, and he had some interesting things to say. As for the $10 billion in infrastructure already invested in the Marcellus/Utica, Lafield says that’s “only a fraction” of what’s needed for investment in the coming years. Lafield says at least $30 billion more needs to be spent “just to keep up with the demand” for infrastructure. Yikes! He also said in his 42 years in the industry, “this is about as good as it gets.”

Also speaking yesterday was MarkWest Vice President of Corporate Development, Scott Garner, who said that MarkWest is spending $2 billion this year on the Marcellus/Utica. As MDN found with our list of 111 midstream/infrastructure projects published in our Marcellus and Utica Shale Databook Volume 2, we estimated there’s at least $40 billion in projects planned or already in process over the next five years or so. Here’s more pickings from yesterday’s conference:
Read More “Blue Racer Exec Says NE Midstream Needs Another $30B+ Investment”
Energy Companies | Energy Services | Gulfport Energy | Industrywide Issues | M&A | MarkWest Energy | Ohio | Ohio Gathering | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Statewide OH | Summit Midstream

Summit Midstream Closes Deal to Buy 40% Stake in Ohio Gathering
January 29, 2014January 29, 2014

Last December MDN told you that Summit Midstream was buying out Gulfport Energy’s share of the Ohio Gathering pipeline and processing system (see Summit Midstream Buys Gulfport’s Interest in Ohio Gathering). As we said at the time, the deal appears complicated on paper with multiple names (like Blackhawk Midstream), but the bottom line was/is that Summit will be the 40% owner and MarkWest Energy will remain the 60% owner of the Ohio Gathering system.

Yesterday, in an announcement by Summit that’s equally dense with details (likely written by lawyers), Summit announced they’ve closed the Ohio Gathering deal. That’s the sum total of this announcement–that the deal is now done:
Read More “Summit Midstream Closes Deal to Buy 40% Stake in Ohio Gathering”