Contango pipeline rupture shuts in Mary Rose production

Feb. 25, 2010
Contango Oil & Gas Co., Houston, announced that a dredge contracted by the Army Corps of Engineers in the Atchafalaya River Channel on Feb. 24 ruptured its 20-in. OD pipeline extending between its Eugene Island 11 gathering platform and the Eugene Island 63 platform from which its production moves to shore.

Christopher E. Smith
OGJ Pipeline Editor

HOUSTON, Feb. 25 -- Contango Oil & Gas Co., Houston, announced that a dredge contracted by the Army Corps of Engineers in the Atchafalaya River Channel on Feb. 24 ruptured its 20-in. OD pipeline extending between its Eugene Island 11 gathering platform and the Eugene Island 63 platform from which its production moves to shore.

The ruptured pipeline transports natural gas production from Contango’s four Mary Rose wells, its Dutch No. 4 well, and its Eloise North well. All six wells were immediately shut-in. Contango provided notice of force majeure to all applicable parties.

At the time of the incident, the pipeline was flowing 125 MMcfd of gas. Contango’s production from Dutch Nos. 1, 2, and 3 wells goes to the EI-24 platform and was unaffected, flowing at 27 MMcfd of gas, net to Contango.

The company said no serious injuries or environmental damage had occurred as a result of the rupture. Repair vessels and a diving crew are en-route to the location to assess the extent of pipeline damage to our pipeline. Contango expected to have divers on-scene Feb. 25 to provide a damage estimate, after which cost and times estimates for repair could be made.

Contango began production at Mary Rose in 2008.

Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].