MPLX LP management said two strategic transactions announced in the first quarter would open the door to growth opportunities in the Marcellus and Utica shales and the Permian Basin.

During a conference call to discuss quarterly performance, CEO Michael Hennigan told analysts that exploration and production (E&P) companies are targeting liquids-rich acreage in the Northeast. “We have already seen growth in the rich gas window of the Utica, and we see new producers moving in the region.”

As such, Findlay, OH-based MPLX enhanced its footprint in the Utica by acquiring pipeline operator Summit Midstream Partners LP’s Utica assets. The package included Summit’s natural gas gathering system in southeastern Ohio and its equity interests in Ohio Gathering and Ohio Condensate,...