MarkWest Energy Partners and The Energy & Minerals Group Announce Strategic Expansion of Dry Gas Gathering Capabilities in Utica Shale to Support Ascent Resources and Other Producers

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MWE) (“MarkWest” and “the Partnership”) and The Energy & Minerals Group (“EMG”) today announced the development of a new, large-scale dry gas gathering system to strategically expand the parties’ leading midstream position in the Utica Shale. The extensive system will be underpinned by a long-term, fee-based contract with Ascent Resources – Utica, LLC, a subsidiary of Ascent Resources, LLC (“Ascent”). Ascent is one of the largest pure-play Appalachian E&P companies with approximately 280,000 net acres in the prolific Utica and Marcellus shale plays. As part of the agreement, Ascent has dedicated to the parties approximately 100,000 gross acres in northern Belmont and Jefferson counties, Ohio. Growing dry gas production from Ascent’s acreage is expected to support the system’s initial growth; however, the new system will also gather significant dry gas volumes from other producers.