Midstream Business Magazine - February 2015
Cover Story
Consolidation Ahead: Watch For M&A Opportunities
After a mass of midstream mergers at the end of 2014, the pace is expected to slow then rebound in 2015. Big returns possible for those with long-term strategies.
Editor's Note
Assets And Liabilities
Intangible assets may be hard to measure.
Construction Update
Pipeline Pause
A surplus of planned projects is scaled down for the new year.
Feature
Closing Bell
‘See Ya, Pops!’
For Now, Just OK
The global oil price plunge may have reined in Oklahoma’s near-term outlook for the hard-charging SCOOP, but much of the region remains economic as it primes itself for the next surge.
MLPs And The 114th Congress
The executive director of the National Association of Publicly Traded Partnerships reviews key issues for MLPs as the new Congress starts work.
Standing Apart From The Crowd
Salient Partners’ MLP chief leads firm through energy industry cycles.
The Interview: Building Utica’s ‘Super System’
Jack Lafield is chairman and CEO of Blue Racer Midstream.
Well-Positioned For Investors
Even among resilient midstream MLPs, Energy Transfer Partners draws attention and attracts followers who admire its upward direction.
Alerian Index
How To Get Some Rest
Strategies for dealing with 2015’s biggest investing concerns.
Finance Matters
Expect The Unexpected
Commodity market volatility may have long-term repercussions for the MLP asset class.
News Flow
2015 deals will favor buyers
With WTI in the $50s, the life is being choked out of acquisition and divestitures (A&D). Budgets are also being slashed and a quarter of North American rigs may be mothballed in 2015.
Analysts: $70 oil can work off excess
At what crude price will U.S. liquids production slow sufficiently to reboot that price?
Federal frack regulation may be less likely now
Results of the midterm elections, which propelled Republicans to control of both the U.S. House and Senate, most likely mean that federal regulation of hydraulic fracking is unlikely in the next two years.
Hofmeister unconcerned about price plunge
John Hofmeister, former president of Shell Oil Co. and founder and CEO of Citizens for Affordable Energy, looked to provide some perspective to attendees during “The New North American Opportunity” panel at Privcap’s recent Energy Game Change conference in Houston.
Industry holds its breath over FLNG’s prospects
A KPMG Global Energy Institute report concludes that floating LNG (FLNG) technology will eventually be viable, but a slow start to compensate for innovation can be expected.
LNG suppliers eye Asian gas demand
Slower than expected gas demand growth in China could put more pressure on LNG suppliers that are already trying to survive high costs amid an industrywide downturn marked by lower crude prices.
New pipelines bring Alberta crude to Gulf Coast
Completion of a pipeline system able to move large volumes of Western Canadian crude oil from Alberta to the U.S. Gulf Coast—the one not named Keystone—merited a January celebration at the Jones Creek terminal near Freeport, Texas, with numerous salutes to international cooperation and competition in free markets.
New Texas regulator ready to take on world
The new Texas Railroad Commissioner shared his goals for Texas’ world domination with pipeline industry executives.
Report: tank car rules could prove costly
Proposed federal railroad tank car safety standards will be costly to implement and also will increase air pollution, according to recently released research by the Brattle Group.
U.S. gas use climbs with shale output
Americans continue to use more natural gas as the nation’s unconventional shale plays provide a larger share of domestic gas needs.
NGL Frac Spread
NGL Margins Face Challenging Start
No price boost yet for NGL, despite cold temperatures.
Transaction Update
Apache’s Farewell, Woodside’s Good Buy
Apache sells LNG assets to Woodside Petroleum to close out year.