Christopher E. Smith
OGJ Pipeline Editor
HOUSTON, Aug. 1 – Enbridge Inc. has signed letters of intent with Chevron USA Inc. to construct, own, and operate the Walker Ridge Gathering System (WRGS), providing natural gas gathering services to Chevron’s potential Jack, St. Malo, and Big Foot ultradeepwater Gulf of Mexico developments.
WRGS would tie production from the Chevron fields into Enbridge's Manta Ray and Nautilus offshore pipeline systems and position the company for future growth in the ultradeep Gulf of Mexico, Enbridge said. Resource-quality gas-hydrate deposits were found in the Walker Ridge area in May 2009 (OGJ Online, May 14, 2009).
The system would include about 190 miles of 8-in., 10-in., and 12-in. OD pipeline at depths of up to 7,000 ft, transporting 100 MMcfd. Enbridge estimates WRGS’s cost at $500 million, subject to finalization of scope and definitive cost estimates.
Enbridge’s current offshore pipelines include the UTOS, Stingray, Garden Banks, Nautilus, Manta Ray, Mississippi Canyon, Okeanos, and Destin systems, transporting 2.5 bcfd of Gulf of Mexico gas.
Chevron initiated front-end engineering and design in March 2009 of a hub to develop Jack and St. Malo fields. The production facility would have capacity of 120,000-150,000 boe/d. Chevron estimates combined recoverable liquids reserves of the two fields at more than 500 million bbl.
Contact Christopher Smith at [email protected].