Oil and Gas Exploration and Production
The oil and gas industry is divided into three major sectors: upstream, midstream and downstream. The upstream sector is commonly known as the exploration and production (E&P) sector. The upstream sector includes the searching for potential underground or underwater crude oil and natural gas fields, drilling of exploratory wells, and subsequently drilling and operating the wells that recover and bring the crude oil and/or raw natural gas to the surface.
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A master limited partnership (MLP) is organized similar to a limited partnership and it is traded publicly on one of the stock exchanges. MLPs are limited to enterprises that engage in only certain types of businesses. These businesses are primarily engaged in natural resources, such as petroleum and natural gas extraction and transportation. To qualify for MLP status, a partnership must generate at least 90 percent of its income from activities related to the production, processing or transportation of oil, natural gas and coal. MLPs are exempt from corporate income tax at both the state and federal levels and may record a pro-rated share of depreciation on their own tax forms to reduce liability.
The following is a partial list of upstream oil and natural gas exploration and production MLPs. |
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BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. (BBEP) engages in the acquisition, exploitation, and development of oil and gas properties in the United States. The company’s properties include natural gas, oil, and midstream assets comprising fields in the Antrim Shale in Michigan, and the New Albany Shale in Indiana and Kentucky; the Evanston and Green River Basins in southwestern Wyoming, the Wind River and Big Horn Basins in central Wyoming, and the Powder River Basin in eastern Wyoming; the Permian Basin in Texas; the Los Angeles Basin in California; the Belridge Field in the San Joaquin Basin in California; and fields in Florida’s Sunniland Trend. As of December 31, 2012, its total estimated proved reserves were 149.4 million barrels of oil equivalent. BreitBurn GP, LLC serves as the general partner to the company. BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. (Daily Chart) (Weekly Chart)
EV Energy Partners, L.P. (EVEP) is engaged in the acquisition, development, and production of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Exploration and Production, and Midstream. Its properties are located in the Barnett Shale; the Appalachian Basin; the Mid–Continent areas in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, and Louisiana; the Monroe Field in northern Louisiana; Central and East Texas; the San Juan Basin; Michigan; and the Permian Basin. As of December 31, 2013, the company had estimated net proved reserves of 13.1 million barrels of oil, 819.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas, and 48.9 million barrels of natural gas liquids. EV Energy GP, L.P. serves as the general partner of EV Energy Partners, L.P. The company was founded in 2006 and is based in Houston, Texas. (Daily Chart) (Weekly Chart)
Legacy Reserves LP (LGCY) owns and operates oil and natural gas properties in the United States. As of December 31, 2013, the company owned interests in producing oil and natural gas properties in 664 fields comprising 8,071 gross productive wells, including 3,734 operated and 4,337 non-operated wells located in the Permian Basin, Texas Panhandle, Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana, Oklahoma, and other states. It had proved reserves of approximately 87.6 million barrels of crude oil equivalent. Legacy Reserves GP, LLC serves as the general partner of the company. Legacy Reserves LP was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Midland, Texas. (Daily Chart) (Weekly Chart)
Linn Energy, LLC (LINE) an independent oil and natural gas company, acquires and develops oil and natural gas properties. The company’s properties are located in Rockies, the Mid-Continent, the Hugoton Basin, California, the Permian Basin, Michigan, Illinois, and East Texas in the United States. As of December 31, 2013, it had proved reserves of 6,403 billion cubic feet equivalent; and operated 19,810 gross productive wells. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. (Daily Chart) (Weekly Chart)
Memorial Production Partners LP, (MEMP) through its subsidiary, Memorial Production Operating LLC, engages in the acquisition, development, exploitation, and production of oil and natural gas properties. Its properties consist of operated and non-operated interests in producing and undeveloped leasehold acreage, and interests in identified producing wells principally located in Texas, Louisiana, and offshore southern California. As of December 31, 2012, its total estimated proved reserves were approximately 609 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent; and owned interests in 1,671 gross producing wells. Memorial Production Partners GP LLC serves as the general partner of Memorial Production Partners LP. The company was founded in 2011 and is based in Houston, Texas. (Daily Chart) (Weekly Chart)
Mid-Con Energy Partners, LP (MCEP) engages in the acquisition, exploitation, development, and production of oil and natural gas properties in North America. Its properties are located in Southern Oklahoma, Northeastern Oklahoma and parts of Oklahoma, and Colorado within the Hugoton Basin in the Mid-Continent region of the United States. The company owns a 75% average working interest in 272 net producing wells, 107 net injection wells, and 61 net wells shut-in or waiting on completion. As of December 31, 2012, its total estimated proved reserves were approximately 13.1 million barrels of oil equivalent. Mid-Con Energy GP, LLC serves as the general partner of Mid-Con Energy Partners, LP. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered is Dallas, Texas. (Daily Chart) (Weekly Chart)
Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC, (VNR) through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. It owns properties and oil and natural gas reserves primarily located in nine operating areas: the Arkoma Basin in Arkansas and Oklahoma; the Permian Basin in West Texas and New Mexico; the Big Horn Basin in Wyoming and Montana; the Piceance Basin in Colorado; South Texas; the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana; the Wind River Basin in Wyoming; the Powder River Basin in Wyoming; and Mississippi. As of December 31, 2012, the company had total proved reserves of 152.2 million barrels of oil equivalent, as well as owned working interests in 2,266 net productive wells and approximately 785,085 gross undeveloped acres. Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. (Daily Chart) (Weekly Chart)
