Midstream Business Magazine - April 2014

Cover Story

Playing For The Queen

The Gulf Coast has long been the most important piece in the midstream game, and production increases are causing the region to grow in significance.

Editor's Note

Wide Awake

In the 1990s, companies sought to beef up short-term earnings by cutting general and administrative expense. That strategy may have been penny wise and pound foolish.

Construction Update

Changing Their Tune On Bluegrass

Kentucky landowners—including a group of Marion County nuns—who are challenging the proposed Bluegrass Pipeline have at least another year to make their case.

Feature

A Competitive Powerhouse

DCP Midstream Partners enjoys strong sponsor support and an array of organic projects to grow on.

Closing Bell

The Putin Vortex

Generating Capital

Led by a team of industry veterans, the breakaway Texas investment firm U.S. Capital Advisors LLC is powering up.

Keep Calm And Move The Crude

Price pressures, bottlenecks and varied API gravities generate only momentary bursts of angst—the boom goes on.

Keeping Up With The Joneses

Criticism of the long-held Jones Act is resurfacing amid a ship shortage and massive transportation needs.

Moving To Midstream

Phillips 66’s large downstream market share is providing opportunities.

Q&A: Michael J. Latchem

Lucid Energy Group's managing director and chief executive thinks long term.

The 'Eaglebine' Takes Off

Modern technology stirs a rebirth in another historic oil play.

The Education Need

Employers have a growing pool of educated candidates and educational institutions are ensuring it stays that way.

Virtual Presence

Energy companies get eyes into the field instantly with virtual-presence systems.

Alerian Index

The Importance Of MLP Distributions

Is a distribution cut a death knell for a master limited partnership (MLP)?

Finance Matters

Plumbing Patience

Master limited partnerships (MLPs) may be one of the best asset classes for long-term investment, but it’s unlikely that portfolio managers will see returns in 2014 that mirror those of last year’s giddy rates exceeding 20%.

News Flow

East-west pipelines key to Canadian crude pricing

Energy security changes global equation

EQT Midstream meets demand head on

New state rules coming for regulators, industry

UEO Buckeye expands Utica-focused system

NGL Frac Spread

Margins Crash As Gas Prices Increase

Although temperatures didn’t approach the lows experienced during the polar vortex events earlier this year, natural gas prices were at their strongest in early March. This caused frac spread margins to take downturns across the board.

Transaction Update

Beefing Up

In 2013, merger and acquisition activity in the sector topped $62 billion, a 16% increase from 2012.