Midstream

Midstream companies are bracing for rulings in a pair of bankruptcy court cases involving distressed exploration and production (E&P) companies.

Pain at the wellhead has flowed down the pipeline to afflict midstream infrastructure operators, and about the only bright spot right now is the outlook for growing natural gas demand at home and abroad as well as increasing liquids exports, a trio of speakers said at IHS CERAWeek.

As it looks to reduce its credit risk in 2016, Oneok Partners LP is looking ahead to growth opportunities presented by the ethane volumes on its system currently being rejected due to low demand.

Attorneys active in the oil and gas industry warn that a pair of bankruptcy court cases involving distressed exploration and production (E&P) companies could spell trouble for the midstream sector, with the potential for more E&Ps using bankruptcy protection as a means to get out of long-term contracts.

Rice Energy Inc. disclosed late Tuesday the terms of a previously announced $500 million equity investment, revealing that the institutional investment firm EIG Global Energy Partners (EIG) would provide $375 million up front for a stake in the company’s midstream assets in Ohio and Pennsylvania (see Shale Daily, Dec. 21, 2015).

Two efforts to repeal a 2004 Virginia state law that gives natural gas companies a means to conduct surveys on private property without owner consent appear unlikely to make it through committee.

FERC has given American Midstream LLC permission to begin construction of the Natchez Pipeline, which will replace the 90-year-old Midla pipeline system in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Commodity price collapse-driven woes continued in the midstream sector Monday. CenterPoint Energy Inc. said it is weighing options for its investment in Enable Midstream Partners, including a sale or spinoff. And separately, Azure Midstream Partners LP has temporarily suspended its distribution.

Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC (MVP) and Consolidated Edison Inc. (Con Edison) announced Friday a pair of 20-year transportation agreements for the New York-based gas and electric utility to move 250,000 Dth/d on MVP and the connected Equitrans system operated by EQT Midstream Partners LP.