Natural gas output in the Gulf of Mexico remained at around 20% all week, with the Minerals Management Service (MMS) reporting Friday production outages equalling 79.4% — with shut-in production totaling 7.94 Bcf/d. The Sabine Pipe Line LLC’s force majeure also continued in effect for the Henry Hub gas delivery point, but some progress was reported.

Since Aug. 26 — pre-Hurricane Katrina — the MMS said total gas production losses are 196.48, or 5.38% of the yearly offshore output.

According to reports from 76 producers, MMS said shut-in oil production on Friday was 1.468 million bbl/d, or 98% of the daily Gulf production. Cumulative shut-in oil is now 40.9 million bbl, or 7.5% of annual production.

MMS also reported 58% of the 819 manned platforms and 25% of the 134 rigs remain evacuated.

Force Majeure continued in effect for the ninth day in a row Friday at all points on Sabine’s Henry Hub. However, the main station yard was drained of standing water, and personnel were able to access the interior of buildings and structures on the drained portion of the complex.

Dewatering of the remainder of the Henry Hub complex, located in Vermilion Parish, LA, was continuing, Sabine said. The parish sustained heavy flooding during Rita, and there also was extensive electrical damage in the region.

Entergy Corp., the parish’s power provider, had no timetable on when the Henry Hub substations would be dewatered and power fully restored. However, Sabine said personnel were connecting temporary generators for areas without power and were planning to establish a “reliable communication system.”.

In other news, Southern Union’s Panhandle Energy said the Trunkline LNG terminal near Lake Charles, LA completed integrity inspections, and it was expected to accept sendout nominations beginning Saturday (Oct. 1).

Spokesman John Barnett said Trunkline will be able to regasify the liquefied natural gas in storage and send it into the pipeline system. However, he noted the Calcasieu Ship Channel remains blocked because of debris and federal restrictions.

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