HOUSTON, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Newfield Exploration
Company (NYSE: NFX) today announced the signing of an agreement with
MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. (Amex: MWE) to construct and operate
gathering pipelines and related facilities associated with the development
of Newfield's Woodford Shale Play in the Arkoma Basin of southeastern
Oklahoma.
MarkWest plans to invest up to $175 million by the end of 2007 and
totaling up to $350 million over the next four years to build gathering
infrastructure of approximately 200-square miles in a four county region.
The gathering system will fully support Newfield's drilling efforts over
its entire operating position in the Woodford Shale. The new gathering
system will be designed to provide low-pressure and highly reliable
gathering, compression, dehydration and treating services. The gathering
infrastructure will include more than 400 miles of large diameter pipeline
and 100,000 horsepower of compression to provide a takeaway capacity in
excess of 500 MMcf/d. The initial term of the agreement is 15 years with an
option to renew.
"We are very pleased to announce this strategic relationship with
Newfield Exploration," said Frank Semple, MarkWest Energy Partners'
President and CEO. "Newfield is a world class exploration and production
company and their development of the Woodford Shale resource has enormous
potential. This comprehensive gathering agreement was the result of
MarkWest providing exceptional service in other areas and our job is to
continue to exceed Newfield's expectations for their operations. The
agreement will contribute significant long-term, fee-based growth
opportunities to MarkWest from one of the premier resource plays in the
U.S." MarkWest will discuss the project in more detail in its third quarter
earnings release conference call.
Newfield continues to have excellent results from its development
drilling program in its Woodford Shale Play. To date, the Company has
drilled more than 100 vertical wells and 30 horizontal wells to establish
the extent of the resource. Newfield continues to add acreage and today
owns an interest in more than 350,000 gross lease acres (more than 125,000
net acres). In late 2005, the drilling program shifted to horizontal wells,
which has significantly increased initial production rates and estimated
ultimate recoveries of reserves in place.
Newfield's most recent five wells had average initial production of 3.7
MMcfe/d. Results to date indicate that Newfield's average Woodford
horizontal well will recover approximately 2.9 Bcfe gross.
Newfield continues to increase its activities in the play. The Company
expects to increase its operated rig count from six rigs currently to as
many as 13 rigs by year-end 2006 and to as many as 20 rigs by year-end
2007. Newfield expects to spud approximately 60 horizontals wells in the
Woodford play in 2006 and up to 155 horizontal wells in 2007.
"By the end of 2009, we expect our gross Woodford Shale production to
increase from a current rate of about 65 MMcfe/d to more than 350 MMcfe/d,"
said Lee K. Boothby, President -- Newfield Mid-Continent. "Our growth
requires the installation of significant mid-stream infrastructure.
Partnering with MarkWest allows us to benefit from their proven expertise
in gathering and transportation and allows Newfield to focus its efforts on
drilling and production."
MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. is a publicly traded, master limited
partnership with a solid core of midstream assets and a growing core of gas
transmission assets. It is the largest processor of natural gas in the
Northeast and is the largest natural gas gatherer in the prolific Carthage
field in East Texas. It also has a growing number of other gas gathering
and intrastate gas transmission assets in the Southwest, primarily in Texas
and Oklahoma.
Newfield Exploration Company is an independent crude oil and natural
gas exploration and production company. The Company relies on a proven
growth strategy growing reserves through the drilling of a balanced
risk/reward portfolio and select acquisitions. Newfield's domestic areas of
operation include the U.S. onshore Gulf Coast, the Anadarko and Arkoma
Basins of the Mid-Continent, the Uinta Basin of the Rocky Mountains and the
Gulf of Mexico. The Company has international exploration and development
projects underway in Malaysia, the U.K. North Sea and China.
MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All
statements other than statements of historical facts included or
incorporated herein may constitute forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements, which in many instances can be identified by
words like "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "believes" and
other comparable words, involve risks and uncertainties that affect our
operations, financial performance and other factors, as discussed in our
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe
that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements,
including those referring to future performance, growth, cash flow,
distributions, or other factors, are reasonable, we can give no assurance
that such expectations will prove to be correct and that projected
performance or distributions may not be achieved. Among the factors that
could cause results to differ materially are those risks discussed in our
Form S-1, as amended, and our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the
SEC. You are also urged to carefully review and consider the cautionary
statements and other disclosures, including those under the heading "Risk
Factors," made in those filings, as well as the following Newfield
Exploration Forward-Looking Statements disclosure.
Newfield Exploration Forward-Looking Statements:
The statements set forth in this release regarding estimated rig
counts, wells drilled, reserve recoveries and production estimates are
forward looking and are based upon assumptions and anticipated results that
are subject to numerous uncertainties. Actual results may vary
significantly from those anticipated due to many factors, including
drilling results, geologic and drilling conditions, natural gas prices,
industry conditions, the prices of goods and services, the availability of
drilling rigs and other support services, the availability of capital
resources and labor conditions. In addition, the drilling of oil and gas
wells and the production of hydrocarbons are subject to governmental
regulations and operating risks.
For Newfield information, contact:
Investor Relations: Steve Campbell (281) 847-6081
Media Relations: Keith Schmidt (281) 674-2650
Email: info@newfield.com
For MarkWest information, contact:
Frank Semple, President & CEO
Andy Schroeder, VP Finance & Treasurer
Phone: (866) 858-0482 Fax: (303) 290-8769
E-mail: investorrelations@markwest.com
Website: http://www.markwest.com
SOURCE Newfield Exploration Company; MarkWest Energy Partners,
L.P.
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Related links:
http://www.markwest.com
CONTACT:
Investor Relations - Steve Campbell,
+1-281-847-6081, or Media - Keith Schmidt, +1-281-674-2650, both
for Newfield Exploration Company, info@newfield.com; or Frank
Semple, President & CEO, or Andy Schroeder, VP Finance &
Treasurer, both for MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P.,
+1-866-858-0482, fax - +1-303-290-8769,
investorrelations@markwest.com
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