Eagle Ford Shale Midstream Sold

June 10, 2015 Elizabeth Alford

Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) will acquire Eagle Ford Shale (EFS) Midstream for a total price of $2.15 billion.

The deal announced this week includes an agreement with Pioneer Natural Resources and Reliance Industries who each own shares in EFS and is expected to be closed in the third quarter this year. The purchase price will be split into two installments, with $1.15 billion to be paid at the transaction closure. The balance of $1 billion will be paid within 12 months of the closing date.

“This ‘bolt on’ acquisition extends our integrated system deeper into the NGL and condensate rich areas of the Eagle Ford, which will provide us with the ability to offer services to additional producers and increase volumes on our system.”

— Michael A. Creel, Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise

EFS Midstream designs, constructs, owns and operates facilities that provide gas gathering, treating, condensate stabilization, and transportation services for operations in the Eagle Ford Shale and offers nearly 460 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines and ten central gathering plants. The firm maintains 119 thousand barrels of condensate stabilization capacity per day and can treat 780 million ft3 of natural gas daily.

Reliance Industries Seeks Buyer for Eagle Ford JV Interest

October 15, 2014 Kirk Eggleston

Pioneer Natural Resources' Production Chart

India's Reliance Industries is looking for a buyer for its interest in a three-way joint Eagle Ford joint venture, according to Bloomberg, which cited "people familiar with the matter." The other players in the JV are Irving, Texas-based Pioneer Natural Resources Co. and a division of Mexico's Alfa SAB de CV - Newpek, LLC.

Mumbai-based Reliance entered the Eagle Ford in 2010 for $1.15-billion. The deal included a 45% interest in Pioneer's Eagle Ford acreage. Currently, Pioneer has ~230,000 gross acres across the play, and a 46% interest in the JV. Newpek, LLC has a 9% interest.

The assets included in the JV are in the heart of the Eagle Ford's condensate window. In June, Pioneer garnered headlines when it received permission from the U.S. Commerce Department (U.S. DoC) to export minimally processed condensate to foreign buyers. With the green light from the U.S. DoC, the assets have become even more attractive and more valuable. Total assets are valued at ~$4 billion, according to Bloomberg's sources.

Earlier this year, Pioneer tabled a deal to sell its interest in the Eagle Ford JV, but will likely consider another offer if the price is right. Newpek, LLC is also reportedly looking for a buyer, according to Bloomberg.

In the second quarter, Pioneer posted record net production in the Eagle Ford of 47 mboe/d. Pioneer, which is the operator for the assets, expects to place 125 wells online in 2014.

Pioneer CEO Confirms Condensate Exports to Europe

September 4, 2014 Kirk Eggleston

Pioneer Resources CEO Scott Sheffield confirmed this week the company has exported its second round of condensate exports - this time to Europe - during an investor webcast presentation. The first exports were to the Asian market in South Korea in July.

In June, Pioneer and Enterprise Products Partners, a midstream service provider, received permission from the U.S. Commerce Department (U.S. DoC) to export minimally processed condensate to foreign buyers. Other major operators in the Eagle Ford like BHP Billiton have also applied for permits, but have not gotten the nod from the U.S. DoC.

“I expect the commerce department to approve several more permits, primarily for condensate, in the Eagle Ford, as long as it goes through the distillation process. I am optimistic this administration or the next one will remove the export ban.”

— Scott Sheffield

he pressure to lift the oil export ban is mounting from other industry executives. This week, Shell's CEO Ben van Beurden urged Barack Obama to lift the ban during a speech he gave at Columbia University.

“Would reinforce the long term future of North American energy production, and help make the global energy system more stable.”

— Van Beurden on lifting the ban,

Under the oil export ban, refined products can be exported. Pioneer's minimally processed condensate exports are considered a refined product by the U.S. DoC.

Listen to the Pioneer Webcast