MarkWest's footprint in the Marcellus and Utica region possesses significant overlap with Marathon's existing refining footprint in Ohio and Kentucky and to the East Coast via its retail assets. The deal creates the largest processor and fractionator in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays, led by MarkWest's leading midstream presence in the shales. Frank Semple, chairman, president and CEO of MarkWest, said during a conference call that integration potential is notable as the two companies' operations span across the NGL, crude, condensate and refined projects value chain. "The volume of NGL production in the Utica and Marcellus shales are expected to increase significantly over the next decade, creating an opportunity to convert NGL into higher-value lending components," Semple said.