AltaGas, Painted Pony developing gas processing infrastructure

AltaGas and Painted Pony Petroleum have signed definitive agreements to enter into a 15-year strategic alliance for the development of processing infrastructure and marketing services for natural gas and natural gas liquids.

The Strategic Alliance will provide for the development of essential liquids-rich gas processing infrastructure in northeast British Columbia and will provide preferred access to international energy markets for Painted Pony’s Montney production. In the first phase of the Strategic Alliance, AltaGas will construct and operate a 198 Mmcf/d shallow-cut gas processing facility (the “Townsend Facility”) in the Montney resource play, of which Painted Pony will maintain the right to a minimum 150 Mmcf/d of firm capacity.

The Strategic Alliance is expected to further expand AltaGas’ fully integrated midstream business, while providing essential gas processing infrastructure for Painted Pony’s world class Montney reserves and access to global natural gas and natural gas liquids end use markets. The Townsend Facility will be located approximately 100 kilometers north of Fort St. John and 20 kilometers southeast of AltaGas’ Blair Creek facility, through which Painted Pony has already been processing a significant portion of its Montney production. The Townsend Facility is estimated to cost approximately $325 to $350 million, to be constructed and funded by AltaGas, and is expected to be in-service by the end of 2015. Commercial operation is subject to regulatory and other customary approvals.

In addition to the construction of key gas processing infrastructure, AltaGas will become the primary marketer for Painted Pony’s natural gas and natural gas liquids production from its northeast British Columbia land base and AltaGas will seek premium marketing transactions for Painted Pony’s products through its extensive North American and global network. Painted Pony will become a significant supplier to AltaGas under the Strategic Alliance, which will provide preferred access to export opportunities for liquefied natural gas and natural gas liquids from existing and planned facilities.

Upon completion of the first phase of the Strategic Alliance, further opportunities for the build-out of additional natural gas and natural gas liquids processing infrastructure in northeast British Columbia are expected, including a potential second phase expansion of the Townsend Facility which could include a deep-cut system for the enhanced recovery of additional natural gas liquids and fractionation facilities. This will provide added capability to process and transport Painted Pony’s significant reserves and meet demand for increased processing infrastructure in the region. Ultimately, this will contribute to developing world class assets in northeast British Columbia with full capability of delivering natural gas and natural gas liquids from well-head to continental and international markets.

Concurrent with the Strategic Alliance, AltaGas has agreed to subscribe, on a private placement basis, for 4,166,666 common shares in the capital of Painted Pony priced at $12 per share, for total proceeds of approximately $50 million. Pursuant to the terms of the private placement, the common shares subscribed for by AltaGas will be subject to a one-year hold period restriction. The private placement is subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Closing of the private placement is expected no later than September 5, 2014. The investment further aligns AltaGas and Painted Pony across the energy value chain. Painted Pony intends to use the proceeds of the private placement to further expand its planned 2015 capital program to accelerate development of its Montney project to align with the timing of the planned facilities contemplated by the Strategic Alliance.

TD Securities Inc. and Cormark Securities Inc. acted as financial advisors to Painted Pony in respect of this transaction. FirstEnergy Capital Corp. acted as a strategic advisor to Painted Pony in respect of this transaction.

Press Release, August 19, 2014; Image: Painted Pony Petroleum