Copano Energy's Eagle Ford pipeline and midstream assets boosted the company's bottom line in the fourth quarter of 2011. The Texas segment of the company reported growth of 27% in gross margins from Q4 2010 to Q4 2011. The primary boost was from increased pipeline throughput in the Eagle Ford Shale and Barnett Combo plays.  Throughput volumes in the South Texas shale play were up 657%. How's that for volume growth.....

Eagle Ford Gathering, LLC also completed its 117-mile pipeline in December 2011. The separate entity, which is partnership between Copano and Kinder Morgan, provided gathering services for an average of 145,551 mmbtu/d in the quarter.

The quarter results also followed an announcement that the company will begin a DK Pipeline expansion that will extend the pipeline 65-miles into McMullen County.