NEWS RELEASE
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Powder River Basin Update
During the third quarter 2018, the Jackalope system averaged gathering volumes of 118 MMcf/d, an increase of 98%, compared to 60 MMcf/d in the third quarter 2017. Crestwood expects continued volume growth on the system as Chesapeake Energy (“Chesapeake”) continues to aggressively develop the Turner formation. During the quarter, Chesapeake experienced strong appraisal well results that further validates the quality of the reserves in the Western part of its acreage position and results in a 6x increase in its drilling inventory through improved spacing assumptions. Currently, Chesapeake has six rigs operating on the Jackalope system with exit rate system volumes to exceed 150 MMcf/d byyear-end 2018 and Chesapeake expects a 100% increase in production volumes byyear-end 2019.
In July 2018, Williams and Crestwood, through the Jackalope joint venture, made a final investment decision on a major expansion of the Jackalope gathering system and Bucking Horse processing plant in Converse County, Wyoming. Through a series of projects, Jackalope will increase gathering and processing capacity to 345 MMcf/d by the end of 2019. Bymid-November 2018, the previously announced Bucking Horse plant expansion from 120 MMcf/d to 145 MMcf/d is expected to bein-service to further support near-term volume growth. In conjunction with these capital expansions, Crestwood and Williams will extend its gathering and processing acreage dedication agreement with Chesapeake by ten years, through 2037, under existing terms. In addition, Jackalope continues to evaluate growth opportunities in the basin to gather and process offset producer volumes or provide crude gathering services.
Non-Core Asset Divestiture
On October 22, 2018, Crestwood closed the previously announced sale of Crestwood West Coast LLC, to an undisclosed buyer. The assets of Crestwood West Coast LLC include a small gas gathering and processing system, fractionator, butamer and various rail and truck terminal and storage facilities which served Crestwood’s West Coast NGL customers. The assets earned approximately $6 million in the previous twelve months. Proceeds from the sale will total approximately $70 million and will be used to reduce borrowings under its revolving credit facility and reinvest in its 2018 and 2019 capital program.
Capitalization and Liquidity Update
Crestwood invested approximately $95 million in consolidated growth capital projects and joint venture contributions during the third quarter 2018 and approximately $207 million in the first nine months of 2018. For full-year 2018, Crestwood expects to invest $300 million to $350 million to execute expansion projects in the Bakken, Powder River and Delaware Basins. Crestwood’s capital investment is targeting organic growth projects that are supported by current producer development activity where Crestwood has established franchise gathering and processing assets. As a result, Crestwood expects average project build multiples in the 5x to 6x range which help drive Adjusted EBITDA growth of approximately 15% in full-year 2019.
On October 16, 2018, Crestwood amended the partnership’s revolving credit facility. The amended revolving credit facility extends the maturity date by three years, from September 2020 to October 2023, reduces the revolving credit facility size from $1.5 billion to $1.25 billion, reduces the facility’s pricing grid by 25 basis points, and maintains the current financial covenants. The amended facility includes a $350 million accordion option that allows for greater facility capacity in the future, if needed. The credit facility is led by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and supported by a bank syndicate comprised of 25 banks. Crestwood expects the new facility to result in annual interest expense savings of approximately $3 million.