By Everdeen Mason
Natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK) said it
reached agreements to sell its midstream compression assets to
Exterran Partners LP (EXLP) and Access Midstream Partners LP (ACMP)
for a total of $520 million to streamline its operations.
Exterran Partners and owner Exterran Holdings Inc. (EXH) said
Friday they agreed to acquire 334 compression units from
Chesapeake--servicing gathering systems in Arkansas, Louisiana,
Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming--for about $360 million to continue
expanding the contract operations business.
The company said the acquisition is expected to add to its
distributable cash flow, but may not increase its distribution per
unit.
Meanwhile, Access said it will purchase 103 compression units
that service gathering systems in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West
Virginia for $160 million to add more natural gas components to its
business. The natural gas operator said it expects the deal to
immediately add to its distributable cash flow.
Separately, Exterran agreed to a seven-year contract operations
services agreement where Exterran will provide contract compression
services to Access in regions such as the Permian, Eagle Ford and
more.
The two deals are expected to close in the second quarter,
Chesapeake said.
Chesapeake, the country's second-largest gas producer after
Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), helped pioneer the American energy boom,
but low gas prices have left its balance sheet in tatters. The
company has been shedding assets to raise cash as it focuses on
more-profitable oil production and in paying down debt.
Write to Everdeen Mason at everdeen.mason@wsj.com
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