Genesis shuts CHOPS offshore crude line for inspection

Genesis Energy LP suffered no apparent damage as a result of Hurricane Laura to its 100%-owned and operated 374-mile Cameron Highway Oil Pipeline System (CHOPS) but has shut the system down until at least Oct. 1 for further inspection.

CHOPS surfaces at a junction platform in Garden Banks Block 72, where it can receive and launch pigs for maintenance on its two 30-in. OD pipeline segments. The platform, in 520 ft of water, recorded waves in the 70-80 ft range and sustained winds in excess of 130 mph as the eye of Laura passed some 17 miles to the southwest. The platform experienced what the company described as “usual and customary” damage to its topside from such weather conditions.

Below the waterline, however, Genesis identified several areas of structural stress that will require further investigation and analysis. As a result, no oil is flowing through CHOPS, which has design capacity of 500,000 b/d.

The company is “aggressively working to collect data and conduct a rigorous structural analysis for review by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement to hopefully be able to reoccupy the platform, conduct the cleanup tasks required, and return CHOPS pipeline to normal operations," it said. 

In the meantime, Genesis is working with shippers to divert affected CHOPS barrels into its 64%-owned and operated Poseidon oil pipeline for delivery to Shell Pipeline Co. LP tankage at Houma, La., or to Shell Midstream Partners LP’s Auger pipeline for further transportation to shore.

CHOPS delivers crude from Holstein, Mad Dog, Atlantis, K2, Constitution, and Ticonderoga fields—all in the deepwater Green Canyon area offshore Louisiana—to refineries in Texas City and Port Arthur, Tex. The 30-in. line out of GB 72 splits into two 24-in. OD lines at High Island A5-C platform for shipment to the refineries.