Regency Energy Partners LP reported a series of expansion projects along its rich gas gathering system in south Texas to meet increasing producer demand in the Eagle Ford Shale. Upon completion, these projects will provide an incremental 200 MMcf/d of capacity for the south Texas gathering system, allowing Regency to provide its customers with more robust gathering services.

"Regency's rich gas volumes in the south Texas region continue to ramp up and we have been aggressive in our plans to offer increased midstream services in the Eagle Ford Shale," said Mike Bradley, president and chief executive officer of Regency. "Our current expansion projects position Regency for additional growth opportunities and will improve the operational efficiencies of our south Texas gathering system in this prolific shale play."

The expansions include: the construction of a 45-mile pipeline to loop a portion of the existing south Texas gathering system from western Webb County, Texas, to new facilities near I-35; the installation of 20,000 horsepower of compression; the installation of an additional 200 MMcf/d of dehydration capacity; and an additional 1,500 Bbl/d of stabilizer capacity.

The capital expenditures related to these expansions are already included in Regency's previously disclosed 2010 organic growth capital budget of $259 million and will be funded under its revolving credit facility. The expansion projects are scheduled to be completed in May 2011.

Tags: Regency Energy Partners LP