USA: Williams Partners Acquires Laser Northeast Gathering System

Williams Partners L.P. announced it has agreed to acquire the Laser Northeast Gathering System and other midstream businesses from Delphi Midstream Partners, LLC for approximately $750 million.

Delphi Midstream Partners, LLC is owned by American Securities LLC and management.

The Laser Gathering System is currently comprised of 33 miles of 16-inch natural gas pipeline and associated gathering facilities in Susquehanna County, Pa., as well as 10 miles of gathering pipeline in southern New York. The acquisition is supported by existing long-term gathering agreements that provide acreage dedications and volume commitments. As production in the Marcellus increases, the Laser system is expected to reach a capacity of 1.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d).

“The acquisition of the Laser system continues our strategy of safely and reliably serving producers through large-scale midstream infrastructure in the Marcellus Shale and other basins,” said Rory Miller, senior vice president of Midstream for Williams Partners.

“This is a great outcome for Laser and its employees,” said Thomas F. Karam, chairman and chief executive officer of Laser. “I am very pleased that our talented and professional team will have an opportunity to join one of the leading companies in the industry.”

Williams Partners plans to fund the purchase price of the acquisition with a combination of $300 million cash and approximately 7.5 million Williams Partners common units.

The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory filings and approvals.

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LNG World News Staff, December 23, 2011