With the Pascagoula Gas Plant (PGP) in Mississippi still shuttered following a fire late last month, Destin Pipeline has been slowly ramping up more takeaway from the Gulf of Mexico, with flows now at about 75% of pre-explosion levels, according to Genscape Inc.

Alternate offshore transportation services via Destin’s 24-inch diameter lateral on the Viosca Knoll Gathering System were continuing to the Main Pass (MP) 260 platform from the Okeanos system, Viosca Knoll (VK) 915 Marlin and Mississippi Canyon 127 Horn Mountain. Estimated takeaway capacity is 310 MMcf/d, Destin noted. The pipeline has been working on alternative routes and modifying its capacity with other operators since the fire (see Daily GPI, July 12; June 29).

The lateral remains isolated from the MP 260 platform Destin said. When flows on MP 260 stabilize, Destin may consider “removing this isolation if it deems the long-term operation of its offshore system can be managed appropriately.” Transportation service from receipt points on the lateral to the Williams MP 261JP platform “continues with a takeaway capacity of 215 MMcf/d.

As of Monday afternoon, flows were restored to MP 260, Genscape analysts said. While flows for Monday “were indeed on the low side,” evening records for Tuesday and Wednesday “indicate flows have increased and are remaining steady. Operational capacity is set to 310 MMcf/d, however flows are sitting around 206 MMcf/d.”

Flows through MP 261 Canyon Station were at 245 MMcf/d, bringing total gas coming off the Destin to 451 MMcf/d.

“In the seven days prior to the PGP fire, offshore production on Destin averaged 594 MMcf/d,’ said Genscape analysts. From June 30 to July 10, “production (measured as deliveries solely to VKGS MP 260) was fairly stable and came in around 342 MMcf/d.”

Flows increased with the addition of MP 261 Canyon Station, moving steadily up to 543 MMcf/d on July 12.

“Since then, between re-piping efforts and unforeseen operational issues, production has been less stable and markedly lower,” analysts said. “Now, flows are sitting at roughly 75% of their pre-fire levels and should be able to slowly tick back up towards higher levels seen earlier this month.”