A unit of Texaco Inc. plans a big gas gathering, transmission, and processing system to support deepwater developments in the Central Gulf of Mexico.
A $300 million construction program is to include a large diameter subsea system across five federal planning areas in the gulf, gas processing facilities at Larose in Lafourche Parish, La., and a natural gas liquids fractionator at Paradis in St. Charles Parish, La.
If plans progress as Texaco expects, system construction could begin in December. With a late 1996 construction start, the system could be ready for start up in third quarter 1997.
Texaco Natural Gas (TNG) heads the proposed project. The Texaco business unit last week was negotiating with possible partners, completing plans for the offshore pipeline's route, and seeking government permits for the project.
TNG expects other offshore operators developing gas reserves in the central gulf to acquire interests in the project. TNG intends to serve as system operator while retaining about 50% interest.
System components
The proposed project's system is to consist of a 30 in. trunk line starting at a site still to be determined about 130 miles offshore in about 2,000 ft of water. The trunk line will end onshore at the Larose cryogenic gas processing plant.
The trunk line and Larose plant will have design capacity of about 600 MMcfd. Partners could expand pipeline capacity to 750 MMcfd if needed.
TNG expects to lay laterals of various diameters to connect the main line with projects coming on line in the region, mostly in deepwater parts of South Timbalier, Grand Isle, Ewing Bank, Green Canyon, and Mississippi Canyon planning areas. Drilling and development activity is increasing in all of the areas, and several large discoveries in the vicinity are to come on stream during the rest of the 1990s.
TNG's proposed project could provide gas pipeline capacity in an area lacking capacity to handle additional production.
In addition, the gas processing center in Larose will help producers in the gulf reach gas and liquids markets in Louisiana and other parts of the U.S.
The Paradis fractionator will be designed to handle about 35,000 b/d of feedstock.
Earlier this year, Texaco and Leviathan Gas Pipeline Partners LP, Houston, formed Poseidon Oil Pipeline Co. LLC, a 50-50 venture that proposed to lay a 16 and 24 in. crude oil pipeline in the central gulf (OGJ, Feb. 26, p. 30). Poseidon last March was to begin transporting oil for deepwater and subsalt developments through a subsea line stretching 117 miles between the Garden Banks and Ship Shoal areas.
Ultimately, Poseidon is to consist of about a 200 mile pipeline with capacity to transport as much as 400,000 b/d of sour crude to market outlets in Louisiana.
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