Duke Energy Field Services (DEFS) is planning on doublingnatural gas processing capacity at its Roggen plant northeast ofDenver because of an increase in gas production. The company willexpand its working capacity from 25 MMcf/d to 55 MMcf/d over thecourse of the next year. Natural gas liquids would rise from 2,100b/d to over 4,300 b/d the company said.

The expansion is necessary to meet the rising levels of naturalgas supply from increased drilling and technology innovations inextracting existing proven gas reserves located in theDenver-Julesburg Basin of Colorado. The expansion also will allowproducers to increase their production capabilities, and liftprocessing constraints.

“This project represents our second recent capacity expansion inthe D-J Basin,” said Michael J. Bradley, senior vice president ofDEFS’ Northern division. “In July 1999, we reactivated 25 MMcf/d ofcapacity at our Roggen Plant – incremental capacity that is nowfully utilized.”

Plans for the addition are already underway, with constructionlikely to begin in the third quarter. The processing plant isexpected to be online in December. The gas liquids will betransported into Philips Pipe Line Company’s natural gas liquidline. The line runs LNG from the Powder River Basin of Wyoming tothe Texas Panhandle.

“The Roggen plant expansion is great news for all D-J Basinproducers,” said Jay Decker, president of Denver-based Patina Oil& Gas Corporation. “Patina has identified a significant numberof low-risk, high rate-of-return development projects; however,many of these projects have been delayed due to current processingcapacity constraints. The Roggen expansion will allow us toincrease our development activity and continue growth in ourproduction levels.”

High line pressures and capacity constraints have affected thegas gathering systems and processing plants, which serve theWattenberg Field. Patina has attributed the increased pressures andprocessing constraints, on an increase in production from numerousoperators, and unusually high ambient temperatures. As a result,Patina’s production in the second quarter was 8% above last year’ssecond quarter results, but slightly below this year’s firstquarter numbers.

The company is currently working with DEFS to reduce linepressures and substantially increase capacity at the Roggenprocessing plant.

Alex Steis

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