Brazos Midstream Holdings LLC commenced operation of its Comanche I cryogenic natural gas processing plant in the southern Delaware Basin, one of several crude oil and gas gathering and processing projects that were recently completed, the company said on May 1.

Brazos’ southern Delaware Basin operations now include the 60 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) plant as well as several new compressor stations and approximately 150 miles of large diameter, low and high-pressure gas gathering pipelines. The project also included the construction of 35 miles of crude oil gathering pipelines, two crude oil storage terminals with a combined capacity of 50,000 barrels (bbls) and connections to multiple downstream crude oil pipelines.

“We are excited about the high-quality assets our team has constructed over the past 18 months,” said Brad Iles, Brazos CEO, in a statement. “Our investment creates a franchise with enhanced midstream service offerings in one of the most economic oil and gas producing regions in the country.”

Comanche I and associated pipelines are in Ward, Reeves and Pecos counties, Texas. Brazos also said it has started construction of a second gas processing plant, “Comanche II”, which will add 200 MMcf/d of incremental processing capacity. Comanche II is expected to be operational during first-quarter 2018 and will increase Brazos’ total operated processing capacity in the Delaware Basin to 260 MMcf/d.

“With multiple productive zones in and around our area of operation, we expect drilling activity and volume growth to remain strong for years to come,” Iles said. “This further emphasizes the critical importance of our strategically-located platform and the timely expansion of our processing capacity.”

Brazos’ midstream infrastructure is anchored by long-term acreage dedications covering more than 200,000 acres with Permian operators currently moving toward full-scale development. The company’s gathering systems have been designed to support multi-well pad development, which is anticipated to accelerate throughout 2017 and 2018. Brazos anticipates further expansion of its processing capacity, which could include an additional 200 MMcf/d natural gas processing plant, as early as 2018.