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Almost every week projects to build or expand natural gas pipelines and natural gas liquids (NGL) midstream infrastructure is unveiled, and most of the news has one thing in common: the Marcellus Shale, something that’s not likely to change anytime soon, according to industry executives.

LyondellBasell has contracted with TexStar MidStream Services LP for TexStar to install two natural gas liquids (NGL) fractionation units next to affiliate Equistar Chemicals LP’s Corpus Christi, TX, plant. The units will process NGLs from the Eagle Ford Shale.

Comprehensive energy legislation proposed by Senate Republicans last Wednesday seeks to open all federal waters to oil and natural gas leasing, expand revenue sharing between the federal government and coastal states, open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to production and bar the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Columbia Pipeline Group is seeking to expand the eastern side of its Columbia Gas Transmission system to provide Marcellus Shale gas to growing markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. It is also pursuing an expansion of the western side of its system to give producers an additional path out of the Marcellus/Utica region and to help avoid continued basis erosion.

Comprehensive energy legislation proposed by Senate Republicans Wednesday seeks to open all federal waters to oil and natural gas leasing, expand revenue sharing between the federal government and coastal states, open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to production and bar the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

NET Midstream unit NET Mexico Pipeline LP plans to build a 124-mile, 42-inch diameter natural gas pipeline to carry gas produced in the Eagle Ford Shale of South Texas to the Texas-Mexico border.

Aiming to expand its international unconventional resource opportunities, Houston-based exploration and production independent ConocoPhillips said Wednesday it has entered into a set of agreements with PetroChina Co. Ltd., under which PetroChina will acquire an interest in two Western Australia exploration assets and establish a joint study agreement (JSA) for unconventional resource development in China’s Sichuan Basin.

MarkWest Utica EMG LLC has clinched an agreement with Rex Energy Corp. to expand its Utica Shale midstream infrastructure.

ExxonMobil Corp. and Russia’s state-owned OAO Rosneft last week agreed to expand a 2011 strategic cooperation agreement for exploration and development, and Rosneft was offered an option to a big stake in the Point Thomson, AK, natural gas and condensate project.