Centerpoint Energy Field Services Unit Announces Deal with XTO Energy for Bakken Shale

CenterPoint Energy Bakken Crude Services, LLC (CEBCS), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. CNP, announced it has entered into a long-term agreement with XTO Energy Inc., a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM, to gather XTO's crude oil production through a new crude oil gathering and transportation pipeline system in North Dakota's liquids-rich Bakken shale. The agreement with XTO is the first agreement entered into pursuant to the open season announced by CEBCS on February 19. Under the terms of this new agreement, which includes volume commitments, CEBCS will provide service to XTO over a gathering system to be constructed in Dunn and McKenzie counties, North Dakota.  The gathering system will have a capacity of up to 19,500 barrels per day.