Comprehensive Energy Data Intelligence
Information About Energy Companies, Their Assets, Market Deals, Industry Documents and More...
Plains All American Expects 10% Increase in the Permian Oilfield Activity
09/01/2022
On August 3 the pipeline operator Plains All American LP raised its 2022 profit forecast for the second time this year, as it expects a huge demand on its pipelines transporting U.S. shale oil to the Gulf Coast.
The company increased full-year adjusted earnings guidance by $100 million to approximately $2.38 billion, since it anticipates higher crude and natural gas liquids volumes.
U.S. crude oil has been in high demand in international markets with WTI crude trading at a discount to internationally-traded Brent crude, making acquisitions appealing to foreign buyers.
European buyers have snapped up the U.S. light sweet crude, the largest part of which is delivered in the Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico, as they depend on replacing Russian barrels.
The marginal demand today is the international market as Plains is convinced that is why prices at the Corpus Christi, Texas, export hub are selling at a premium to Houston and other export ports. The company considers that Corpus Christi is the best place with low inventories and high prices.
Plains has two crucial long-haul pipelines, Cactus and Cactus II, which deliver oil from the Permian basin to Corpus Christi. Plains CEO Willie Chiang anticipates achieving more volumes to get to its long-haul pipelines as capacity in the Permian basin increases.
Average daily crude oil volumes in the second quarter grew 30% on its Permian Basin pipelines with oilfield activity trending about 10% exceeding its initial expectations. Its shares increased 3.6% in after-hours trading on August 3 to $11.19.
Moreover, the larger pipeline rival Magellan Midstream Partners LP gave a similar view last week, saying Permian volumes on its Longhorn and BridgeTex pipelines to Houston decreased as shippers likely transported barrels to the international market. Plains’ adjusted second-quarter net income allotted to common unitholders increased 29% to $210 million.
Plains All American’s transportation assets primarily generate revenue through a combination of tariffs, pipeline capacity agreements, and other transportation fees. Its facilities assets generate revenue through a combination of month-to-month and multi-year agreements and arrangements which include storage, throughput, and loading/unloading fees at its crude oil facilities, and fees from condensate processing services. Also, it generates revenue through the commercial and merchant activities that supply volumes to the transportation and storage assets, although such activities are generally low margin.
Plains employed a variety of owned or, to a much lesser extent, leased long-term physical transportation and facilities assets throughout the United States and Canada in this segment, including approximately: 18,300 miles of active crude oil pipelines and gathering systems; 74 million barrels of commercial crude oil storage capacity at the terminalling and storage locations; 38 million barrels of active, above-ground tank capacity used to facilitate pipeline throughput and help maintain product quality segregation.
If you are looking for more information about energy companies, their assets, and energy deals, please, contact our sales office mapping@hartenergy.com, Tel. 619-349-4970 or SCHEDULE A DEMO to learn how Rextag can help you leverage energy data for your business.
Corpus Christi and its O&G Infrastructure
Export Opportunities For Permian’s and Takeaway Problem
Significant Growth of MPLX; Pipeline Throughput Raised by 6%
According to a midstream oil and natural gas company release on August 2, MPLXLP has increased total pipeline throughputs by 6% in the second quarter of 2022 and terminal throughput by 4%, versus year-ago levels. In an earnings statement of MPLX, the total pipeline throughputs were 5.9 million bbl/d, with terminal throughput of 3.1 million bbl/d for the second quarter. The company reported a net income of $875 million and adjusted earnings of $1.457 million in the second quarter, both higher than in the same period of 2021. Gathered volumes grew up by 11% from year-ago levels to an average of 5.6 Bcf/d. In the Marcellusregion, gathered volumes fell 1% compared to year-ago levels to an average of 1.3 Bcf/d. MPLX is expanding several projects, including in the Permian Basin where the Whistler pipeline is increasing from 2 Bcf/d to 2.5 Bcf/d, in addition to lateral pipelines into the Midland Basin and Corpus Christi domestic and export markets. Moreover, the construction is also maintained on the 200 MMcf/d Tornado ll processing plant, which MPLX anticipates coming online in the second half of 2022. Additionally, 68,000 bbl/d Smithburg de-ethanizer project in the Marcellus is expected to come online in the third quarter.
The U.S. has overtaken Saudi Arabia and Russia to become the world's largest oil and gas producer. In 2024, America's oil output has surpassed last year's record by 1.4%, reaching new heights. Even as oil-producing countries in the Middle East cut back, the U.S. continued to ramp up production after a downturn in 2020, establishing itself as a dominant force in the global market. In terms of numbers, U.S. oil production jumped from an average of 2.93 million barrels per day in 2023 to 13.12 million barrels per day in 2024, marking a significant 7.1% increase.
Kinetik Holdings recently announced a series of transactions in the energy sector. They struck a deal to buy Durango Permian infrastructure for $765 million. At the same time, they're selling their 16% share in the Gulf Coast Express Pipeline to ArcLight Capital Partners for $540 million. The total purchase cost includes $510 million in cash paid immediately and an additional $30 million that will be paid later, depending on whether they decide to expand further.
Recently, the Permian has seen significant acquisitions: Exxon Mobil purchased Pioneer Natural Resources for about $60 billion. Diamondback Energy's $26 billion deal to acquire Endeavor Energy Resources is currently on hold due to requests from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Occidental’s acquisition of CrownRock for $12 billion in the Midland.