Momentum Announces Appalachia Gathering System in the Marcellus Shale

HOUSTON, March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- M3 Midstream LLC ("Momentum") announced today that it has signed long-term gas gathering agreements with Chesapeake Energy Marketing, Inc. ("Chesapeake"), a subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK) and Statoil Natural Gas LLC ("Statoil"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Statoil ASA (NYSE: STO) as anchor customers on its Appalachia Gathering System (the "AGS").  The agreements cover certain Marcellus shale leases controlled by Chesapeake and Statoil in northern West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania.

The AGS will serve dry gas production areas in northern West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania with modern, efficient gathering infrastructure consisting of approximately 130 miles of large diameter gathering pipeline spanning Washington and Greene Counties, Pennsylvania, and Monongalia, Marion and Harrison Counties, West Virginia.  In order to accommodate flow from multiple producers in the area, the capacity of the gathering pipeline is anticipated to be as much as 730 MMcf per day.  The project further provides both low and high pressure service, centralized dehydration, and custom compression services, as needed.  The AGS will provide access to the Texas Eastern Transmission pipeline in Southern Pennsylvania, and will have the ability to provide future access to both Columbia Gas (TCO) and Dominion.  Construction efforts are underway, and Momentum plans to begin providing gathering services in early 2012.  

"The AGS is a perfect fit to Momentum's skill set of bringing quality greenfield midstream services to areas in developing shale plays that lack modern infrastructure," says Frank Tsuru, President and CEO of Momentum.  "We look forward to providing exceptional gathering services to Chesapeake and Statoil, who have confirmed their confidence in the AGS and Momentum today."  

Activity in the Marcellus Shale continues to increase and the AGS is expected to serve multiple producers along its anticipated route.  For more information about the AGS, please contact Les Smith at (713) 243-3008 or Brant Baird at (713) 243-3005.  

About M3 Midstream LLC

M3 Midstream, LLC ("Momentum") is an independent energy company formed to build, acquire, own, and operate oil and gas midstream assets in growth areas of the United States.  The company provides focused services that include oil and gas gathering, compression, treating, and processing to a growing number of customers in active areas, including the Marcellus Shale.  More information is available at http://www.m3midstream.com. 

For media inquiries, please contact:
George Francisco
M3 Midstream LLC
Phone: 713-243-3004
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE M3 Midstream LLC