Meritage Midstream Services has completed and begun flowing gas on the Fasken Ranch lateral pipeline, which is an extension of the company’s Eagle Ford Escondido Gathering System in Webb County, TX.

The 14.5-mile, 12-inch diameter pipeline extends Meritage’s gathering system to the northwest into Swift Energy Co.’s Fasken operating area. Swift will have up to 40 MMcf/d of firm capacity on the new pipeline, Meritage said.

Golden, CO-based Meritage is also building a 10.5-mile, 16-inch diameter extension to the southeast to increase takeaway capacity in the Eagle Ford. This line is expected to be in place in early 2011. Meritage also said it will expand gas treating capacity at its South Calahan facility as volumes on the gathering system increase.

“Our goals are to make sure that producers have the transmission and processing capacity they need and also provide the reliable access to multiple markets that will maximize the value of their gas,” said Meritage CEO Steven Huckaby.

Meritage is backed by equity commitments from EnCap Flatrock Midstream and TPH Partners.