BUZZ-Some divergence seen as energy MLPs nosedive

** MLPs tumble on heavy volume amid carnage in energy stocks as oil prices plummet to 7-year lows

** Benchmark Alerian MLP index plunges 6.2 pct, its worst one-day plunge since the S&P's downgrade of U.S (Other OTC: UBGXF - news) . debt in Aug 2011

** Worst performer Legacy Reserves drops a fifth as Stifel cuts its rating to "hold"

** Targa Resources (NYSE: TRGP - news) , Energy Transfer Equity, Plains All American, Williams Partners careen 10-15 pct

** However, some Marcellus-Utica shale-focused MLPs hold up better: Antero Resource Midstream falls 1.4 pct, EQT Midstream slides 2.2 pct and Columbia Pipeline Group drops 4.5 pct

** Those with strong parents also outperform with Royal Dutch Shell affiliate Shell Midstream (Berlin: 49M.BE - news) down just 1.3 pct and Phillips 66 Partners (LSE: 0QOQ.L - news) lower by 2.5 pct

** Alerian index now down 45 pct YTD to a 6-year low

** Other yield payers, such as REITs and utilities, also under pressure with a near certain Fed rate hike looming next week

(RM (LSE: RM.L - news) : lance.tupper.tr.com@reuters.net)