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SCOOP/STACK Midstream Developments. Pipeline Projects Driving Gas Prices. Challenge of Getting Water for Fracking
12/20/2018
Positive Outlook on SCOOP / STACK’s Blue Mountain Midstream’s Pipeline System
Blue Mountain Midstream LLC Company operating in Merge play as well as in SCOOP and STACK plays, OK, continues to be a “fast-growing business”. Being a 100% subsidiary of the Riviera Resources, Inc., a recent spin-off from Linn Energy, Blue Mountain Midstream is said by David Rottino, Riviera’s president and CEO, during the recent company’s earnings call to remain one of its “tremendous growth assets”.
Blue Mountain provides natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids service solutions in the mentioned area. (See this on Rextag's map above).
Christmas Season Decorative Lighting and Power Demand. Does This Still Affect Gas Prices? (Or Have New Pipeline Projects Changed this Pattern?)
According to research (by EnVantage Inc.), a 10% increase in power demand near Christmas and the New Year was historically attributed to decorative lighting. Although diminishing due to the slow adoption of LED, this year the effect is hard to trace due to extreme volatility. Waha Hub prices were fluctuating from $3.85 /MMBtu on Nov. 13 down to $0.30 /MMBtu in two weeks and up to $1.36 /MMBtu by December 4.
Most of the movement is attributed to the excessive gas supply from Midland basin. The latter was a by-product (associated gas) from additional oil output delivered from Midland to Colorado City and Wichita Falls along newly introduced Sunrise Pipeline expansion by Plains All American LP. Estimated at over 750 MMcfd it contributed to the Waha plunging prices.
NGL prices likewise are thought to be affected by prospects of another group of pipelines under construction: Mariner East 1 and Mariner East 2 pipelines by Sunoco. Located in Pennsylvania, the pipelines are intended to facilitate the transfer of Natural Gas Liquids from the Utica and Marcellus Shale Formations to ports on the East, where ethane, butane, pentane, propane mixes will be exported.
Fracking Water Demand: Challenges and Their Treatment Approaches
It has been pointed out by experts that “rig count correlates with water source needs”. If a region lacks water-handling assets then development slows to a stop. Companies need to procure both water to drill and means of its future disposal. Cost is the main concern here.
The issue may be resolved by one of the following approaches:
- Adjusting the existing pipelines to become water-dedicated for bringing new water to the area.
- Use treated water from nearby municipals. (Several projects are being discussed in Oklahoma City in the Midcontinent, Carlsbad, N.M., and Odessa and Midland, Texas). However, supply of the treated water is quite limited so this will remain a niche market.
- Reuse of already produced water for frack jobs. This approach can be taken by regional players who would provide dedicated systems in place to handle all: gas, oil and water for their local customers.
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Shell's Midstream Assets in TX and LA (Gulf area)
On October 19, Shell USA completed the almost $1.96 billion acquisition of the master limited partnership. The company paid $15.85 in cash for every common unit representing limited partner interests in SHLX not held by Shell USA or its affiliates. A subsidiary of Shell USA has 269,457,304 SHLX common units or roughly 68.5% of SHLX common units.
TransCanada to Expand its NOVA Gas Transmission System in Alberta
TransCanada will invest to connect several production areas to its existing NOVA Gas Transmission pipeline in Alberta
Continental Resources is expanding its operations in the Midland Basin, including taking over some assets that used to belong to Occidental Petroleum. The company plans to use its expertise in exploration in this area.
Equinor and EQT Corporation have agreed that Equinor will exchange its operated assets in the Marcellus and Utica shale formations in Ohio for a stake in EQT’s non-operated interests in the Northern Marcellus formation.
Appalachian Basin (formerly Marcellus and Utica) covers most of New York, Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, West Virginia, and Western Maryland in the north, reaching down to parts of Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama in the south. The basin is massive, covering about 185,000 square miles, roughly 1,000 miles long from northeast to southwest, and in some places, it's up to 300 miles wide. In this area, some major companies are making significant investments. EQT stands out as the largest producer in the Appalachian Basin, with other key players including Chesapeake, Range Resources, Antero, Repsol, and Gulfport also actively investing.