Oct 29 (Reuters) - Pipeline operator ONEOK ( OKE )

reported a 52.6% rise in third-quarter profit on Tuesday, helped

by higher demand in the Rocky Mountain region as it transported

higher volumes of natural gas and natural gas liquids.

The company reported a 7% growth in the Rocky Mountain

region natural gas liquids (NGL) raw feed throughput volumes and

a 5% increase in natural gas volumes processed in the region.

NGLs such as ethane and propane are used as feedstock by the

petrochemicals industry.

ONEOK's ( OKE ) NGL unit adjusted core profit rose 1.3% to $624

million during the reported quarter, while the core profit in

the natural gas pipelines segment rose by 22.1%.

In June, ONEOK ( OKE ) completed its acquisition of an NGLs pipeline

system from Easton Energy, helping expand its NGL asset

portfolio. The company also expanded its refined products

pipeline to the Greater Denver area in July.

Its quarterly core profit from the refined products and

crude segment was at $441 million.

The company's asset expansion continued in the third

quarter, with the acquisition of midstream assets in the Permian

and Mid-Continent basins.

The pipeline operator also narrowed its current-year profit

forecast to be between $2.87 billion and $3.02 billion from its

previous expectation of $2.73 billion to $3.03 billion.

The Tulsa, Oklahoma-based company reported net income of

$693 million, or $1.18 per share, for the three months ended

Sept. 30, compared with $454 million, or 99 cents per share, a

year earlier.