By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 29 -- Shell Exploration & Production Co. resumed production Monday from its Mars tension leg platform on Mississippi Canyon Block 807 in the Gulf of Mexico. Production from the TLP had been shut in since May 22, when Shell reported damage to its oil export pipeline's flexjoint following discovery of a small oil leak (OGJ Online, June 8, 2004).
Repairs to the flexjoints on both its oil and natural gas export lines have been completed, Shell reported, and the facility is currently pumping down the process vessels. Production from the TLP is expected to reach its pre-shutdown level of 150,000 b/d of oil and 170 MMcfd of gas "within 2-3 days," the company said.
Shell said the flexjoint on the gas line was replaced and a temporary repair was made to the oil line to allow production to safely resume until the flexjoints could be refurbished. Also, the company expects to shut in production later this summer for about a week to install the refurbished flexjoints.
"Inspections of flexjoints at other Shell-operated TLPs have found the condition of those joints to be adequate for continued safe and efficient operation," Shell noted.
