Gas production ramping up from Santa Barbara Channel

Crude oil production from existing platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel may be declining (see related story, this page), but natural gas production continues to ramp up from Exxon Corp.'s Santa Ynez Unit (SYU) in the channel. Gas production from Exxon's three SYU platforms (Heritage, Harmony, and Hondo) has built to the point that the company reinjects 100 MMcfd from Heritage while processing another 70 MMcfd onshore. SYU oil production has fallen to about 68,000 b/d during the past 5

Nov. 30, 1998

2 min read

Gas production from Exxon's three SYU platforms (Heritage, Harmony, and Hondo) has built to the point that the company reinjects 100 MMcfd from Heritage while processing another 70 MMcfd onshore.

SYU oil production has fallen to about 68,000 b/d during the past 5 months from an average of about 80,000 b/d.

Exxon has begun laying a 7-mile subsea gas pipeline between Heritage and Harmony and has agreed to buy the Pacific Offshore Pipeline Co. (Popco) gas processing plant, adjacent to Exxon's Las Flores Canyon oil and gas processing complex, from Sempra Energy Corp., San Diego.

In May, the Popco plant was expanded to 60 MMcfd from 35 MMcfd. Design capacity is 90 MMcfd, but that is constrained by air quality permits and hydrogen sulfide levels under agreements with local and state authorities.

Improved flexibility

The new 12-in. subsea gas pipeline will give Exxon more flexibility to perform workovers, while it produces the gas from Heritage platform, by transporting it to Harmony and Hondo and then onshore via a 7-mile pipeline to the Popco plant. It also eliminates the need to build a 17-mile pipeline from Heritage to the onshore plant.

Exxon uses about 15 MMcfd as fuel for its Las Flores cogeneration power plant, while Popco continues to run at its 60 MMcfd capacity.

Buying the Popco plant and its offshore gas pipeline "fits in with our business interests," said Bob Davis, of Exxon's Houston office. Exxon has agreed to acquire all of Popco's stock and will operate it as an affiliate. The purchase should be completed by yearend, Davis said.