Deepwater GOM Pipeline System Starts Up

Deepwater GOM Pipeline System Starts Up
Williams has acquired and placed into service the Norphlet deepwater gas gathering system.

Williams reported Wednesday afternoon that it has acquired and placed into service the 16-inch Norphlet deepwater gathering pipeline system constructed by Shell Offshore Inc. and CNOOC Petroleum Offshore U.S.A. Inc.

According to a written statement from Williams, the Norphlet system extends 54 miles (87 kilometers) from the Shell-operated Appomattox Floating Production System (FPS) in 7,400 feet (2,256 meters) of water to the Transco Main Pass 261A junction platform. The Transco platform is located approximately 60 miles (97 kilometers) south of Mobile, Ala., and first gas delivery occurred on June 22, 2019, added Williams.

“We are excited to participate in this Jurassic development with Shell and CNOOC,” Williams President and CEO Alan Armstrong said on his company’s behalf. “Shell has exhibited a tremendous history of successful large-scale developments across the Gulf of Mexico and early indications here are for that to continue in the Jurassic play with their additional discoveries.”

Shell reported in May of this year that it had begun production from the Appomattox FPS, noting that the milestone heralded a “new frontier” for the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

The Norphlet system can gather an estimated 261 to 291 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and connects more than 33,000 acres of dedicated leases to Williams’ Mobile Bay processing facility via the Transco lateral at the Main Pass 261A platform, Williams stated. Also, the company noted the system features a spare subsea connector for additional FPS volumes and modifications at the Mobile Bay facility that expanded slug handling capacity by 118 percent and stabilizing capacity by 329 percent.

Approximately 50 percent of the Norphlet deepwater gas gathering system’s contractual capacity remains available for future discoveries in the area, Williams added.



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