Aux Sable Affiliate Acquires Key Assets in the Bakken Area of North Dakota
CHANNAHON, IL, June 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Aux Sable Liquid Products L.P., Enbridge Inc. (TSX, NYSE: ENB), Veresen Inc. (TSX: VSN) and Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ) are pleased to announce that Sable NGL LLC, an affiliate of Aux Sable, has executed an agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE: EOG) to purchase and operate the Stanley Condensate Recovery Plant and the Prairie Rose Pipeline. The Prairie Rose Pipeline connects the Stanley Plant to the Alliance Pipeline, which delivers high energy dense phase gas to Aux Sable's Channahon, Illinois Plant for processing. The purchase agreement calls for the US$185 million transaction to close in July 2011.
The Stanley Plant commenced operation in February 2010 and will have a capacity of 80 MMcf per day when a current expansion is completed in June 2011. The plant removes the heavier hydrocarbon compounds while leaving the majority of the natural gas liquids in the rich gas delivered into the Prairie Rose Pipeline.
The 12-inch diameter, 83-mile Prairie Rose Pipeline also commenced operation in February 2010 and gathers gas from the Stanley Plant and other sources for delivery into the Alliance Pipeline system at Bantry, North Dakota. The pipeline has an estimated capacity of 110 MMcf per day and can be easily expanded to meet additional demand.
"This acquisition represents a significant step forward in the pursuit of our strategic growth objectives in the Bakken area, as it provides key infrastructure assets that will lead to increased deliveries of liquids-rich natural gas to our Channahon facilities," said W.J. (Bill) McAdam, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aux Sable. "With this acquisition, Aux Sable will be able to directly engage in and expand its role as a provider of value-added gathering and processing of natural gas and natural gas liquids from the Bakken play."
"As the largest crude oil producer in the North Dakota Bakken, EOG constructed these facilities when there was little infrastructure in the basin. We believe the time is right to sell these assets to an organization that specializes in gathering and processing, allowing us to focus on our core exploration and production activities in the region. We are pleased that Aux Sable recognized the value of both the Stanley Plant and the Prairie Rose Pipeline and are confident that under their management these facilities will benefit all operators in this part of North Dakota," said Ray L. Ingle, President of EOG's Pecan Pipeline (North Dakota), Inc. subsidiary.
Each of Aux Sable and Sable NGL is owned by Enbridge Inc. (42.7% equity interest), Veresen Inc. (42.7% equity interest) and Williams Partners (14.6% equity interest). Enbridge Inc. and Veresen Inc. each own a 50% interest in the Alliance Pipeline.
"We are pleased with this investment in that it bolsters our already strong position in the Bakken, one of the most prolific energy plays in North America," said Al Monaco, President, Gas Pipelines, Green Energy and International, Enbridge Inc. "The Pecan natural gas infrastructure increases the accessibility of the Alliance gas pipeline to Bakken-area producers and draws additional liquids-rich gas to the Aux Sable NGL fractionation plant near Chicago. The investment complements Enbridge's existing Bakken liquids pipeline systems in North Dakota and Saskatchewan. We look forward to working with producers to maximize the value of their resources in this region."
"This transaction demonstrates Veresen's commitment to execute on our strategic plans by expanding our services and presence in liquids-rich resource plays," said Stephen White, President and CEO of Veresen Inc. "The Pecan assets allow us to leverage our existing infrastructure investments, including Aux Sable and Alliance, and enhance our capacity to provide high-value services both to producers and end users."
About Aux Sable
Aux Sable Liquid Products owns and operates a world-scale natural gas liquids extraction and fractionation facility in Channahon, Illinois near the eastern terminus of the Alliance Pipeline. It is capable of processing 2,100 MMcf per day of natural gas and can produce approximately 102,000 barrels per day of specification NGL products. For more information, visit www.auxsable.com.
About Enbridge Inc.
Enbridge Inc., a Canadian company, is a North American leader in delivering energy and one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. As a transporter of energy, Enbridge operates, in Canada and the U.S., the world's longest crude oil and liquids transportation system. The Company also has a growing involvement in the natural gas transmission and midstream businesses, and is expanding its interests in renewable and green energy technologies including wind and solar energy, hybrid fuel cells and carbon dioxide sequestration. As a distributor of energy, Enbridge owns and operates Canada's largest natural gas distribution company, and provides distribution services in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and New York State. Enbridge employs approximately 6,400 people, primarily in Canada and the U.S. and is ranked as one of Canada's Greenest Employers, and one of the Top 100 Companies to Work for in Canada. Enbridge's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ENB. For more information, visit www.enbridge.com.
About Veresen Inc.
Veresen Inc. is a publicly traded dividend paying corporation based in Calgary, Alberta, that owns and operates energy infrastructure assets across North America. Its common shares and 5.75% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures, Series C due July 31, 2017 are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols "VSN" and "VSN.DB.C", respectively. Veresen Inc. is engaged in three principal businesses: a pipeline transportation business comprised of interests in two pipeline systems, the Alliance Pipeline and the Alberta Ethane Gathering System; a midstream business which includes ownership interests in a world-class extraction facility near Chicago and other gas processing energy infrastructure; and a power business with renewable and gas-fired facilities and development projects in Canada and the United States, and district energy systems in Ontario and Prince Edward Island. Veresen Inc. and each of its pipeline, midstream and power businesses are also actively developing a number of greenfield projects. In the normal course of its business, Veresen Inc. and each of its businesses regularly evaluate and pursue acquisition and development opportunities. For more information visit www.vereseninc.com.
About Williams Partners L.P.
Williams Partners L.P. is a leading diversified master limited partnership focused on natural gas transportation; gathering, treating, and processing; storage; natural gas liquid (NGL) fractionation; and oil transportation. The partnership owns interests in three major interstate natural gas pipelines that, combined, deliver 12 percent of the natural gas consumed in the United States. The partnership's gathering and processing assets include large-scale operations in the U.S. Rocky Mountains and both onshore and offshore along the Gulf of Mexico. Williams (NYSE: WMB) owns approximately 75 percent of Williams Partners, including the general-partner interest. More information is available at www.williamslp.com.
About EOG Resources, Inc.
EOG Resources, Inc. is one of the largest independent (non-integrated) oil and natural gas companies in the United States with proved reserves in the United States, Canada, Trinidad, the United Kingdom and China. EOG Resources, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the ticker symbol "EOG."
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the anticipated benefits of the pending transactions described herein. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and may be affected by known and unknown risks, events or circumstances that may be outside the control of the parties and their owners. Accordingly, while the parties and their owners believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable and are based on reasonable assumptions, no assurance can be given that these assumptions are accurate or that any of the expectations, including expectations regarding the anticipated benefits of the pending transactions, will be achieved (in full or at all) or will prove to have been correct. Moreover, the pending transactions described in this press release may not be completed or may be completed at a date later than anticipated. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and the parties and their owners undertake no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, anticipated or unanticipated circumstances or otherwise.
SOURCE Aux Sable Liquid Products Inc.
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