June 2011 Vol. 238 No. 6
Projects
KMP Increases Footprint In Eagle Ford And Haynesville Shale Plays
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. has entered into a definitive agreement to pay approximately $855 million to Petrohawk Energy Corporation and assume approximately $65 million in debt for Petrohawk’s 50% interest in KinderHawk Field Services (the natural gas gathering and treating services provider in the Haynesville Shale) and a 25% interest in Petrohawk’s natural gas gathering and treating business in the Eagle Ford Shale. Additionally, KMP will invest approximately $220 million to build a new crude/condensate pipeline with a capacity of approximately 300,000 bpd that will initially transport 50,000 bpd of condensate for Petrohawk from its production area in the Eagle Ford to the Houston Ship Channel.
KMP’s crude/condensate pipeline will consist of about 61 miles of new-build construction and 109 miles of existing natural gas pipeline that is being converted. Service to KMP’s natural gas customers in the Houston Ship Channel will not be affected by this optimization of the company’s Texas intrastate pipeline system. The pipeline will originate in Petrohawk’s Black Hawk Field near Cuero, TX, and extend to the Houston Ship Channel where it will initially deliver condensate to multiple terminaling facilities with access to local refineries, petrochemical plants and docks. The new pipeline is expected to be in service in the second quarter of 2012.
Upon closing, which is expected in the third quarter this year, KMP will own 100% of KinderHawk, the largest natural gas gathering and midstream business in the Haynesville Shale of northwest Louisiana. KinderHawk currently has more than 400 miles of pipeline with over 2 Bcf/d of pipeline capacity and throughput of over 0.9 Bcf/d. Throughput is expected to reach 1.2 Bcf/d by year end. In the Eagle Ford Shale in south Texas, KMP and Petrohawk will form a joint venture (KMP will own 25% and Petrohawk 75%) that will own two midstream gathering systems in and around Petrohawk’s Hawkville and Black Hawk fields. The joint venture, which will have a life of lease dedication of Petrohawk’s reserves, will provide Petrohawk and other area producers with gas and condensate gathering, treating and condensate stabilization services. Combined, the joint venture assets will consist of more than 280 miles of gas gathering pipelines and approximately 112 miles of condensate gathering lines to be in service by year end.
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