WEST UNION — West Virginia officials and representatives of the oil and gas industry gathered at MPLX’s Sherwood Complex in Doddridge County Thursday morning to celebrate the facility’s continued growth and success.
Construction of the complex began in 2012, and it’s now the nation’s largest natural gas processing facility.
In December, the complex celebrated a significant milestone when its Plant 11 became operational, bringing its total capacity to more than 2.2 billion standard cubic feet per day.
Gov. Jim Justice, Sen. Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., and a representative of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. participated in Thursday’s event. Each spoke briefly, praising the economic importance of the facility and its role in leading innovation for the state’s extractive industries.
Marathon Petroleum Corp. Chairman and CEO Gary Heminger and Antero Resources Regional Senior Vice President Al Schopp also spoke.
Marathon is MPXL’s parent company. Antero Resources is the Sherwood Compex’s primary supplier of gas.
Justice said Thursday was a “incredible day for West Virginia.”
“We shouldn’t run from the fact that we’re a natural resource state,” he said. “We should be proud of our contribution to what we have been to our nation.”
MPLX’s commitment to investment in the Doddridge County will ensure the area’s abundant oil and gas reserves are utilized to their full potential, Justice said.
“I’m a real believer that you put the hog confinement building near the corn field,” he said. “All of our stuff that we have, as far as opportunities in the petrochemical industry and on and on and on, all of that needs to be located where the cheapest gas, the absolutely best opportunity is, and it’s right here in West Virginia.”
Capito praised MPLX and Antero’s efforts to consider both the needs of industry and environmental concerns.
“There are hurdles that are apparent in Washington, D.C., and really across the county, some of it has to do with pipelines, some of it has to do with climate, some of it has to do with a thought that you can’t balance the environment with the economy,” she said. “I think that’s what you see here today with both Antero and MPLX. You see the dedication of the leadership of the companies who work hard every day to strike that balance.”
McKinley noted the hard work and dedication of the local laborers who constructed the Sherwood Complex.
“You have to understand folks that these things don’t just happen. You’ve got to fight for them. You’ve got to preserve to make these things happen,” he said. “You’ve got to find a workforce that’s ready to build this. The building trades and what they’ve done are just phenomenal. Building this plant and keeping it on time and on budget, that’s the kind of quality ... When you talk about the people, that’s the people.”
Schopp said the complex represents the oil and gas industry’s potential to impact West Virginia’s economic future.
“We’re not in Louisiana, we’re right here in Doddridge County, West Virginia; that’s where the largest natural gas processing plant in the world is,” he said. “It’s an incredible accomplishment and Sherwood’s growth reflects the industry’s continued success in the region and longterm potential for the region.”
Following Thursday’s events, officials and others in attendance were given the opportunity to tour the Sherwood facility and learn more about its operations.