MarkWest Energy Partners LP subsidiary MarkWest Pioneer LLC said late last week that rising natural gas production in Oklahoma has led the company to hold a binding open season through April 21 to solicit shipper commitments for firm year-round transportation service on its proposed Arkoma Connector Pipeline.

The transportation service would originate northeast of Coalgate, OK, from an interconnect with MarkWest’s gathering system in the Woodford Shale production area in southeastern Oklahoma and extend 50 miles to the south near Bennington, OK, where the pipeline would interconnect with the proposed Midcontinent Express and Gulf Crossing pipelines.

The targeted in-service date for the transportation service is the second quarter of 2009, subject to approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). MarkWest has undertaken review of the pipeline project through the pre-filing process with the FERC. The project was first announced in late January (see NGI, Feb. 4).

MarkWest said it will determine the capacity, scope and cost of the pipeline based on the results of this open season. The estimated capacity of the pipeline is 625,000 Dth/d. To meet the diverse needs of the region’s gas producers, MarkWest anticipates offering firm and volumetric-based transportation service.

Additional information, including the binding service request form, is available at www.markwest.com under “Operations/FERC Pipelines/Arkoma Connector Pipeline.” Questions regarding the open season should be directed to MarkWest business development representative Bob Powell at (713) 666-6747, or via e-mail at bpowell@markwest.com.

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