Production from Freeport McMoRan Resource Partners LP's big Frasch sulfur mine in the Main Pass area of the Gulf of Mexico has hit full stride.
Main Pass sulfur production last month by the New Orleans unit of Freeport McMoRan Inc. climbed to 5,500 long tons/day, full design capacity of the mine. It has produced at or above that level since then.
Freeport McMoRan said the project is tops in thermal efficiency among mines of its type.
The company's Main Pass project also produces 21,500 b/d of oil.
SULFUR OPERATIONS
The Main Pass mine began producing sulfur in April 1992 at low volumes, typical of the start up phase of a new sulfur mine.
To attain maximum production levels of molten sulfur, a build up of heat in the formation is required. Hot water injection, which is used to heat the formation, has been at full capacity since start up.
As Freeport McMoRan anticipated, sulfur production has increased gradually during the last 21 months as heat in the formation rose, right on target with an initial estimate of 17 25 months.
With achievement of full production rates, the water efficiency of production the number of gallons of hot water injected for every ton of sulfur produced has reached about 1,800 gal/ton.
At that water efficiency, Freeport-McMoRan said, Main Pass is one of the most thermally efficient sulfur mines ever operated and the lowest cost sulfur mine in North America. Of the three dozen Frasch sulfur mines operated in the U.S. during the past 100 years, only one is known to have averaged less than 2,000 gal/ton, while most have averaged more than 3,000 gal/ton.
Having produced about 1 million long tons of sulfur to date, the Main Pass sulfur deposit holds an estimated 66 million long tons of remaining recoverable sulfur reserves to be mined during about 30 years.
Freeport McMorRan said the effect on the sulfur market of full production at Main Pass will be small because annual production from the project is about the same average volume of sulfur the company has sold per year during the past decade.
OIL PRODUCTION
Freeport McMorRan's Main Pass oil production totals about 18 million bbl since flow began in November 1991. Remaining recoverable oil reserves are about 21 million bbl.
Current flow of 21,500 b/d places Main Pass among major oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico. Freeport McMorRan expects its net Main Pass oil production this year to equal 1993's volume of 3 million bbl, assuming water encroachment follows current trends.
The Main Pass sulphur/oil project is a joint venture of Freeport McMorRan 58.3%, IMC Fertilizer Inc. 25%, and Homestake Mining Co. 16.7%.
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