EXXON TO DEVELOP GAS RESERVES OFF ALABAMA

Exxon Co. U.S.A. is under way with a program to develop deep Jurassic Norphlet gas reserves in Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico off Alabama. It will spend $1 billion during the next 3 years, expecting by late 1993 to have 12 wells producing a total of 300 MMcfd of sour gas. The company will complete six of 10 existing wells, deciding which ones to complete based on results of six wells still to be drilled. Production equipment, flow lines, and gathering lines of corrosion resistant alloys

Sept. 24, 1990

2 min read

Exxon Co. U.S.A. is under way with a program to develop deep Jurassic Norphlet gas reserves in Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico off Alabama.

It will spend $1 billion during the next 3 years, expecting by late 1993 to have 12 wells producing a total of 300 MMcfd of sour gas. The company will complete six of 10 existing wells, deciding which ones to complete based on results of six wells still to be drilled.

Production equipment, flow lines, and gathering lines of corrosion resistant alloys will be needed to withstand the hot, sour gas.

A 300 MMcfd treatment plant to extract hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide is being built in southern Mobile County, 20 miles south of Mobile. Exxon expects to recover 150 long tons/day of sulfur and small volumes of CO2.

Exxon project manager Rich Kartzke said total wells drilled during the 30-35 year life of the project could reach 26.

Exxon's development areas virtually surround Mobil Exploration & Producing U.S. Inc.'s Mary Ann field, the first field on stream off Alabama. Mobil has more development under way in the area (OGJ, Oct. 9, 1989, p. 24).

WORK TO DATE

Exxon designed jackets and decks for the three platforms planned for the project. Contracts for fabricating those structures are to be let next month.

Brown & Root, Houston, is nearing completion of design of production facilities and flow lines.

Fabrication contracts won't be let for another year, Kartzke estimated.

Exxon let contract for detailed engineering of the gathering system to Fluor-Daniel, Sugarland, Tex. The contract for installation hasn't been let, but line pipe has been ordered.

Detailed design of the onshore plant, which will treat a stream made up of 95% hydrocarbon gas, 1% H2S, and 4% CO2, began last year under a contract let to H.B. Zachry, San Antonio. Stearns-Roger, Denver, is subcontractor for plant design and construction.

Ebasco, Atlanta, a subsidiary of Enserch, Dallas, is providing quality management services for the project.

For the six wells to be drilled before production begins, Exxon will hire two cantilevered jack up rigs, modified to handle heavy drill strings required for 22,000 ft wells.