Targa announces Grand Prix NGL pipeline extension

The company also announced an extension of its new common carrier natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline currently under construction (Grand Prix) into southern Oklahoma. The pipeline expansion is underpinned by significant long-term commitments for both transportation and fractionation services from Targa's existing and future processing plants in the Arkoma area in its SouthOK system and from third party commitments, including a significant long-term commitment for transportation and fractionation with Valiant Midstream, LLC.

"We are very pleased to have entered into agreements to provide services across our integrated platform supported by a large acreage position held by a major Delaware Basin customer. This is a significant extension of our multi-plant, multi-system Delaware footprint, adding infrastructure through the core of the Delaware Basin. Also, the expansion of our Grand Prix NGL Pipeline into Oklahoma is an attractive extension of a highly strategic asset for Targa, enhancing the capabilities we can offer our existing and potential customers in southern Oklahoma," said Joe Bob Perkins, Chief Executive Officer of Targa. "The investments are aligned with our strategic objectives of leveraging existing Targa infrastructure to further strengthen our competitive position from gathering and processing through transportation, fractionation and other related services to meet the infrastructure needs of our customers."

Delaware Basin processing expansions

In the Delaware Basin, supported by the significant near-term volume growth expected on the dedicated acreage, Targa will construct approximately 220 miles of 12 - 24 in. high pressure rich gas gathering pipelines across some of the most prolific parts of the Delaware Basin, a new 250 million ft³/d cryogenic natural gas processing plant (the Falcon Plant) in the Delaware that is expected to begin operations in 4Q19, and a second 250 million ft³/d cryogenic natural gas processing plant (the Peregrine Plant) in the Delaware that is expected to begin operations in 2Q20. Total net growth capex related to the plants and high pressure pipeline system is approximately US$500 million, with approximately US$200 million expected to be spent in 2018.

Targa will also provide NGL transportation services on Grand Prix and fractionation services at its Mont Belvieu complex for a majority of the NGLs from the Falcon and Peregrine plants.

Grand Prix NGL pipeline extension into Oklahoma

The Grand Prix extension into Oklahoma will be anchored by significant long-term commitments for both transportation and fractionation services from Targa's existing and future processing plants in the Arkoma area in its SouthOK system and from third party commitments, including a significant long-term commitment for transportation and fractionation with Valiant. Targa continues to expect Grand Prix to be fully completed and in service in 2Q19.

Once completed, the capacity of Grand Prix from North Texas, where Permian and Oklahoma volumes will be connected to a 30 in. diameter segment of the pipeline to Mont Belvieu, will be approximately 450 000 bpd, expandable to 950 000 bpd. The capacity on the 24 in. diameter pipeline from the Permian Basin to North Texas will be approximately 300 000 bpd, expandable to 550 000 bpd. The capacity from southern Oklahoma to North Texas will vary based on telescoping pipe size. The vast majority of the pipe for Grand Prix has already been purchased.

As one of the largest gatherers and processors of natural gas in the prolific Permian Basin, with approximately 2 billion ft3/d of current natural gas processing capacity and approximately 1.5 billion ft³/d of processing capacity being added across both the Midland Basin and the Delaware Basin, Targa's existing plants and plants in progress will provide significant volumes for transportation on Grand Prix to Targa's assets in Mont Belvieu. Additionally, Targa's current natural gas processing position in North Texas and commitments in the Arkoma area of southern Oklahoma will also provide incremental volumes on Grand Prix to Targa's downstream assets in Mont Belvieu. Targa expects Grand Prix NGL volume deliveries to Mont Belvieu to significantly increase over time and currently estimates deliveries to exceed 250 000 bpd at some point during 2020 depending on upstream production levels. Volumes on Grand Prix are expected to continue to increase beyond 2020 from continued production growth, increasing third party commitments and the expiration of Targa's existing obligations to transport on other third party NGL pipelines, further enhancing Grand Prix's economics.

Targa's total growth capital spending on Grand Prix is now estimated to be approximately US$1.65 billion, with net growth capital spending of approximately US$1.1 billion and approximately US$900 million net expected to be spent in 2018. Targa's total 2018 net growth capital expenditures for announced projects is now expected to be approximately US$2.2 billion.

Grand Prix's economics related to the volumes flowing on the pipeline from the Permian Basin to Mont Belvieu are part of the previously announced joint venture with Blackstone Energy Partners and the development joint venture with investment vehicles affiliated with Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners. The economics related to the volumes from North Texas and from the extension into southern Oklahoma will accrue exclusively to Targa.

Potential asset sales

Targa continues to evaluate and execute financing opportunities to fund its remaining equity capital needs for its announced projects in 2018, which may include a combination of additional asset joint venture arrangements, various types of public and private capital, and asset sales. Targa has engaged Evercore Group LLC to evaluate alternatives, including the potential divestiture of its Downstream Petroleum Logistics business, which includes terminals in Baltimore, MD; Tacoma, WA; and its Crude and Condensate Splitter and terminal in Channelview, TX. Targa is also evaluating a potential sale of its marine barge business. These potential divestitures are predicated on third party valuations adequately capturing Targa's forward growth expectations for the assets. Sales proceeds could offset a significant portion of the increase in net growth capital expenditures related to the new projects announced today.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/28032018/targa-announces-grand-prix-ngl-pipeline-extension/