The title of the MLP discussion at the 6th Annual Wachovia Pipeline and MLP Symposium, “Growing Pains,” aptly described participants’ ambivalent feelings about the pipeline MLP market.

Regency Energy Partners’ presentation at Wachovia’s 6th Annual Pipeline & MLP Symposium in New York City on Dec. 6 focused on the company’s relationship with GE Energy Financial Services. Because of its ties to a financially strong partner, the company’s business strategy is focused on increasing the cash available for distribution to unitholders.

Growth was the name of the game at last week’s 6th Annual Pipeline and MLP Symposium and nowhere was it more obvious then in Crosstex Energy LP’s presentation. The company’s CFO, Bill Davis, spoke with GPR following the symposium and explained how the company’s growth strategy has transitioned from one built on acquisitions to one focused on organic projects.

At this past week’s 6th Annual Pipeline & MLP Symposium, ONEOK Partners’ chairman, CEO and president John Gibson’s presentation centered on ONEOK’s greatest potential for growth being through internal growth projects.

MarkWest Energy Partners’ presentation at Wachovia’s Pipeline and Energy MLP Symposium last week centered on the merger between MarkWest Hydrocarbon Inc and MarkWest Energy Partners LP. The $734 million agreement, announced in Sept. and is expected to close in Q1 2008, will see Hydrocarbon become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Partners. The agreement also includes Hydrocarbon’s NGL marketing business.

Enterprise Products Partners LP (link) continued to target the Piceance Basin of northwest Colorado as an area for growth by signing an agreement with Marathon Oil Company for Enterprise’s first wellhead gathering system in the region.

Provident Energy Trust announced a C$187 million (U.S. $186 million) budget for 2008, including a midstream budget of C$43 million (U.S. $42.8 million). The midstream budget is up from the 2007 budget of C$41 million (U.S. $40.8 million).

Inter Pipeline Fund agreed to sell 15.3 million Class A limited partnership units at $9.80 per unit for gross proceeds of $150,038,000. The offering includes an over-allotment option to purchase 2,296,500 units for up to 30 days after closing. Should the over-allotments be exercised in full, it will result in total gross proceeds of $172,543,700.

Following a drop in NGL prices at Mont Belvieu, the hub’s margin for fractionating the whole barrel rose 1%. The NGL with the biggest gain in frac spread margin was pentanes-plus, which rose 4% from last week.