May 1 (Reuters) - Pipeline operator Targa Resources ( TRGP )

on Thursday reported a rise in adjusted core profit in

the first quarter, helped by its Badlands operations in North

Dakota and as higher NGL prices and service fees the offset

impact of lower volumes.

Targa supplies natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) to

key markets through its network of gathering and processing

assets, which are spread across the U.S. These assets are

located in the Permian Basin, Bakken Shale, Barnett Shale, Eagle

Ford Shale, among others.

The Badlands operations include about 500 miles of crude oil

and 300 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines. Targa

repurchased its interest in Targa Badlands LLC for $1.8 billion

during the quarter.

Quarterly crude oil sales from its Badlands operations were

up 13% from the previous year at 107.1 thousand barrels per day

(MBbl/d).

NGL sales in its Gathering and Processing Segment were 570.2

thousand barrels per day (MBbl/d) in the reported quarter,

compared with 498.8 MBbl/d a year earlier, along with higher

prices.

Targa's adjusted core profit rose 5% from last year to $1.18

billion. Analysts, on average, were expecting $1.16 billion,

according to data compiled by LSEG.

However, overall revenue was flat and missed analysts'

expectations, hurt by winter weather events reducing system

volumes.