Noble Midstream Partners LP and Greenfield Midstream LLC provided a commercial and business development update for its Black Diamond Gathering LLC joint venture. Black Diamond provides crude oil gathering and storage services to producers in the Denver-Julesburg (D-J) Basin.

  • Black Diamond has entered into a new strategic relationship with Saddlehorn Pipeline Co. LLC, including an option for up to a 20% ownership in Saddlehorn; and
  • Black Diamond added a long-term oil gathering dedication from Verdad Resources LLC, increasing Black Diamond dedicated acres by about 85,000 acres, or 54%.

Saddlehorn Investment Option

As part of such strategic relationship, Black Diamond and Noble Energy Inc. made commitments during Saddlehorn’s recent open season. Black Diamond’s investment option expires in April 2020.

The Saddlehorn Pipeline, which is jointly owned by affiliates of Magellan Midstream Partners LP, Plains All American Pipeline LP and Western Midstream Partners LP, is currently capable of transporting about 190 thousand barrels per day (MMbbl/d) of crude oil and condensate from the D-J and Powder River Basins to storage facilities in Cushing, Okla., owned by Magellan and Plains. With the recent successful open season, the Saddlehorn Pipeline will be expanded by 100,000 bbl/d, to a new total capacity of 290,000 bbl/d. The higher capacity is expected to be available in late 2020 following the addition of incremental pumping and storage capabilities. Magellan serves as operator of the Saddlehorn pipeline.

Upon an option exercise by Black Diamond, Magellan and Plains would each sell-down their equity interests in the Saddlehorn Pipeline to Black Diamond on an equal 10% basis while WES would retain its 20% equity ownership.

“Saddlehorn is an important long-haul outlet from the D-J and Powder River Basins with premier midstream equity partners and commitments from high-quality producers,” said Noble Midstream CEO Brent Smolik. "This opportunity is a natural expansion of Black Diamond’s strategic footprint, with the ability to realize economics further down the crude oil value chain while enhancing the all-in value proposition for our customers. In addition, the new open season TSAs signed by Noble Energy and Black Diamond will include a tariff reduction to transport barrels to Cushing.  We are excited by another potential long-haul pipeline investment and believe this opportunity reflects our strategic advantage and differentiated playbook for long-term growth and value creation.”

Long-Term Oil Gathering Dedication to Black Diamond

In addition, Black Diamond has secured a 15-year oil gathering dedication from Verdad Resources. The dedication encompasses about 85,000 acres and more than 750 potential drilling locations in the D-J Basin in southern Weld County, Colo. This increases the total acreage dedicated to the Black Diamond system to about 243,000 acres.

Seven rigs are currently running on the Black Diamond dedicated acreage, including one rig on the Verdad acreage. Initial Verdad well connections are anticipated in early 2020. Black Diamond anticipates modest capital requirements in 2019 from the new gathering opportunity which can be absorbed within existing 2019 capital guidance provided at the partnership’s second-quarter earnings due to sustainable cost savings achieved this year.

“I’m extremely pleased to add a new customer and meaningful acreage dedication to our system. This is another testament to Black Diamond’s strong competitive position in the D-J Basin as well as the differentiated value proposition we provide our customers," Smolik said. "These positive commercial developments enhance the resiliency and long-term potential of this premier oil gathering platform.” 

Noble Midstream operates Black Diamond, which includes a large-scale integrated crude oil gathering system in the D-J Basin, consisting of about 240 miles of pipeline in operation, 300 MMbbl/d delivery capacity and 390 MMbbl/d crude oil storage capacity. The system is connected to every major takeaway pipeline in the D-J Basin, including the White Cliffs Pipeline, the Saddlehorn Pipeline, the Grand Mesa Pipeline, and the Pony Express Pipeline. The partnership’s 54.4% ownership of Black Diamond is held through its wholly owned subsidiary, Laramie River DevCo LP. Greenfield Midstream owns 45.6% of Black Diamond.

Onshore