Duke Energy Field Services (DEFS) completed an expansion at itsRoggen gas processing plant northeast of Denver, CO. The expansionmore than doubles the plant’s capacity to 58 MMcf/d, increasingproducer capabilities to develop additional gas reserves ingas-rich Weld County and easing processing constraints in the area.

“With natural gas and NGL prices near all-time highs, we areexpecting producer development activity to continue at very highlevels over the next few years,” said Michael J. Bradley, seniorvice president of DEFS’ Northern division. “We are already lookingat several additional ‘bolt-on’ expansion projects to ourfacilities in the Denver-Julesburg (D-J) Basin in anticipation thateven more capacity will be needed to meet the needs of our producercustomers.” DEFS presently owns and operates six plants and morethan 2,200 miles of gas gathering lines in the area.

The D-J Basin has been a tremendous growth area for DEFS withplant inlet volumes increasing from 160 MMcf/d one year ago to morethan 186 MMcf/d today. Gas liquid (NGL) production also hasincreased from 12,600 b/d to more than 14,600 b/d. The completionof the Roggen expansion will allow production growth in the D-JBasin to continue to help meet the rapidly increasing demand fornatural gas and NGL products, adding incremental inlet capacity of30 MMcf/d and increased NGL production of 2,200 b/d. This expansionrepresents DEFS’ second expansion in the area within the last 18months.

“This expansion offers a much-needed solution to the processingconstraints in the D-J Basin,” said Jay Decker, president ofDenver-based Patina Oil & Gas. “With this increased capacityPatina plans on increasing its development capital expenditures in2001 by over 40% above the 2000 level.”

DEFS was formed by combining the Duke Energy and PhillipsPetroleum natural gas gathering and processing businesses. DukeEnergy owns 70% of the joint venture and Phillips Petroleum ownsabout 30%.

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