Mitchell Energy & Development Corp., Woodlands, Tex., said Thursday it would double the capacity of its Bridgeport natural gas processing plant in North Texas during 2001 when it undertakes a second expansion of that facility.
Mitchell said construction of the processing train and a related residue sales pipeline is needed to accommodate rapidly growing gas production from Mitchell's Newark East field.
The initial plant expansion, to be completed later this month, will increase processing capacity by 100 MMcfd to 310 MMcf, with maximum production of gas liquids at Bridgeport to increase by 8,000 b/d to 27,000 bbl. Next year's expansion will bring capacity to 430 MMcfd and 37,000 b/d respectively when completed next July.
The latest project, estimated to cost $64 million, also includes construction of a 49-mile, 24-in. pipeline and the addition of 27,000 hp of compression to move residue gas south from Bridgeport to two major gas transportation systems. This will give Mitchell "complete flexibility" to sell its North Texas gas production into all of the major interstate transportation systems as well as local intrastate markets.
"These projects are being driven by the continuing success of our development drilling and recompletion programs in the Barnett Shale, including the recent decision to increase the number of rigs drilling to 12 by this coming February," said George P. Mitchell, chairman and CEO.
"We expect Bridgeport to be operating at full capacity early next year, just months after the first expansion comes onstream. Likewise, we expect that the capacity to be added in July will be fully utilized no later than early 2002."
He said the increase in drilling and the plant expansions should enable Mitchell to exceed a 20% volume growth.