GULF PIPELINE REROUTED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

Texaco Inc. will reroute a planned crude oil pipeline at added cost to reduce the risk of harm to the East Flower Garden Bank National Marine Sanctuary in the western Gulf of Mexico. The Flower Garden banks are coral reefs about 12 miles apart. Texaco, operator and a 50-50 partner with Union Oil Co. of California, originally planned to lay the pipeline between the east and west banks.

Jan. 20, 1992

2 min read

Texaco Inc. will reroute a planned crude oil pipeline at added cost to reduce the risk of harm to the East Flower Garden Bank National Marine Sanctuary in the western Gulf of Mexico.

The Flower Garden banks are coral reefs about 12 miles apart.

Texaco, operator and a 50-50 partner with Union Oil Co. of California, originally planned to lay the pipeline between the east and west banks.

The 32 1/2 mile, 8 in. line will link Texaco's newly installed Tick platform on Garden Banks Block 189 with an existing 20 in. Amoco Pipeline Co. line northeast of the East Flower Garden Bank. The Amoco line feeds into the High Island Offshore System.

But the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Minerals Management Service objected to the original route. They said if the line ruptured, the prevailing easterly currents would sweep spilled oil into East Flower Garden Bank.

After negotiations, Texaco agreed to reroute the line east of East Flower Garden Bank, adding 2 miles in length and $1.5 million in cost. It will come no closer than 7,000 ft to the coral reef. Texaco plans to begin construction on the $10 million line this spring.

Scott Sewell, MMS director, said Texaco also agreed to additional operating conditions.

The line will operate at only half the 2,500 psi pressure possible, moving 10,000 b/d rather than the 25,000 b/d possible.

Texaco also will install extra pressure monitoring devices so it can shut down the system at any pressure imbalance and will install radar transponders and reflectors on platforms in the area.

William Wallace, vice-president of Texaco Exploration & Producing Inc.'s eastern region, said, "While the original route met all regulations and was environmentally sound, the new route provides an even greater dimension of protection for these unique Gulf of Mexico natural resources."