With EPA regulations on the flaring of natural gas slated for 2015, infrastructure to accommodate the rapid rise in production will be in high demand. That's why I am not necessarily worried when a company like Spectra Energy (SE) has a quarterly release that missed estimates. What I looked for in Spectra's report is management's vision for the future.
Spectra Energy already has a dynamic portfolio of transmission and storage assets ready to serve the natural gas market, but it is not resting on its laurels. Projects are currently in the works for large capacity upgrades in 2013 and 2015 through partnerships with other big industry names.
Spectra isn't concentrating only on overall capacity, but geographical location as well. In 2015, they will be adding an additional 1 billion cubic feet per day of transport capacity, connecting the United States and Canada from Ohio to Ontario. But what really excites me are the two pipelines they are engaging in with Phillips 66 (PSX -0.66%) and DCP Midstream (DCP). These will connect lucrative fields in both the Eagle Ford and Permian basins to the natural gas liquids hotspot, Mont Belvieu. Access to this area is critical because of its existing infrastructure and proximity to petrochemical feedstock companies along the Gulf of Mexico.
With these prospects, shareholders should be confident in the ways that Spectra Energy management is employing its capital and should look forward to a bright future for years to come.
