Joint

As part of its proposed joint venture diesel refinery slated to process 20,000 b/d of Bakken crude oil by next year, Bismarck, ND-based MDU Resources Group has a strategy aimed at its exploration and production (E&P) and midstream infrastructure businesses sharing in the continuing boom in its home state.

A joint venture (JV) of Battelle and Winner Global LLC expects to begin building its first unit in April to respond to a potential water shortage facing oil and natural gas companies that are engaged in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) activities in the Utica and Marcellus shales in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

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

Across the Kinder Morgan companies more than $12 billion worth of expansion projects and joint ventures (JV) have been identified. One of them, conversion of a portion of the El Paso Natural Gas Co. (EPNG) pipeline to oil service is advancing, and a natural gas pipeline opportunity is on the radar, said CEO Richard Kinder.

Across the Kinder Morgan Inc. companies there are more than $12 billion worth of expansion projects and joint ventures (JV) identified. One of them, conversion of a portion of the El Paso Natural Gas Co. (EPNG) pipeline to oil service is advancing, and a new gas pipeline opportunity is on the radar, said CEO Richard Kinder.

For the fourth time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the public comment period for its investigation into groundwater contamination near Pavillion, WY, this time until Sept. 30.

An expansion of Seaway Crude Oil Pipeline is nearing completion and will increase capacity from about 150,000 b/d to about 400,000 b/d, said Seaway Crude Oil Pipeline LLC, a joint venture of Enterprise Products Partners and Enbridge Inc. Seaway suspended service on its 500-mile, 30-inch diameter pipeline to complete the remaining pump station connections. Service is expected to resume by Jan. 11. In addition to the pipeline that transports crude oil from Cushing, OK, to the Gulf Coast, the Seaway system is composed of a terminal and distribution network originating in Texas City, TX, which serves refineries locally and in the Houston area. The Seaway system also includes dock facilities at Freeport and Texas City. Further expansion of the system is planned to be completed in 2014 (see Shale Daily, March 28, 2012).

Over opposition from a consumer groups, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) authorized a five-year, $150 million joint research effort between a federal research laboratory and three of the state’s major investor-owned utilities. Natural gas operating advancements are one of four focus areas.

Dominion and Caiman Energy II LLC on Thursday said they are forming Blue Racer Midstream LLC, a $1.5 billion joint venture (JV) that would provide midstream services to natural gas producers operating in the Utica Shale in Ohio and portions of Pennsylvania.