Associated

A subsea survey for the fourth time has confirmed the integrity of the Macondo well and the associated relief wells in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, BP plc said. The visual inspection by BP and Transocean Ltd., which owned the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, was to see if residual oil remained trapped under wreckage. The sheen is not recoverable and poses no risk to the shoreline, the U.S. Coast Guard said. No conclusive evidence of hydrocarbons leaking was observed from the surveyed area, but a “white, cloudy substance” appeared to emanate from several places on the overturned rig. Samples were collected, and BP plans to review the results with federal officials.

Costar Midstream LLC has acquired more than 80 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines, associated compression and treating assets in Gregg County in northeast TX. Costar operates 75,000 Mcf/d of gas processing capacity, 8,000 b/d of natural gas liquids (NGL) fractionation capacity, 20,000 hp of compression, and 30,000 Mcf/d of gas treating capacity in the area. As a result of the acquisition, Costar will construct 10 miles of 12-inch diameter pipeline to connect the NGL-rich gas supply to Costar’s existing processing plant and 600 miles of gathering pipelines. Costar is a portfolio company of Energy Spectrum Capital and was formed in April 2011 to acquire and develop midstream infrastructure.

Ultra Petroleum Inc.’s Wyoming unit on Friday agreed to sell a liquids pipeline system and gathering facilities and certain associated real property rights in the Pinedale Anticline in Wyoming for $225 million. The buyer is Pinedale Corridor LP, a newly created unit of CorEnergy Infrastructure Trust, and the deal is expected to close later this month.

Targa Resources Partners LP said Thursday it will acquire all of Saddle Butte Pipeline LLC’s ownership of its Williston Basin crude oil pipeline and terminal system as well as its natural gas gathering and processing operations for $950 million in cash.

During the third quarter, Southwestern Energy Co. grew natural gas and oil production by 12% from a year ago. Costs associated with its Fayetteville Shale activities declined while well results there improved. Marcellus Shale production more than doubled from a year ago, and the company continues to find its way in the emerging Brown Dense play.

During the third quarter, Southwestern Energy Co. grew natural gas and oil production by 12% from a year ago. Costs associated with its Fayetteville Shale activities declined while well results there improved. Marcellus Shale production more than doubled from a year ago, and the company continues to find its way in the emerging Brown Dense play.

A CenterPoint Energy Inc. subsidiary on Tuesday bulked up its East Texas and Northwest Louisiana natural gas gathering and processing business after completing two agreements worth a total of $364 million.

Antero Resources disturbed an aquifer while attempting to dislodge a stuck drillbit at a new Marcellus Shale natural gas well in West Virginia’s Harrison County on Wednesday morning, causing blowouts at four abandoned private water wells.

One day after purchasing natural gas processing facilities and associated infrastructure in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays, MarkWest Energy Partners LP said it plans to remain independent and will allocate more toward capital expenditures (capex) in 2012.