Shut in natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico because of damage from Hurricane Ivan has remained at about 1.5 Bcf/d for about a week. The Minerals Management Service reported Monday that a cumulative 98.7 Bcf of gas was deferred because of damage from the hurricane and shut-ins remain at 1,517 MMcf/d, or about 12% of total daily Gulf gas production.

Nine platforms and one rig are still evacuated and most of the damage to gas infrastructure is upstream of the Southern Natural and Tennessee Gas Pipeline systems, both of which are owned by El Paso Corp.

About 426,172 b/d of oil production remains shut in, which is about 25.1% of total Gulf oil production. Cumulative oil production deferred because of Ivan stands at 23.8 million bbl.

Southern Natural said Monday that there has been no change since last week to facilities upstream of its interstate pipeline system. Damage assessments are continuing in the Main Pass area. Repairs to Olga Compressor Station are on-going. Prior to Hurricane Ivan, Southern was receiving about 800 to 850 MMcf/d of gas at 68 points upstream of its Toca Compressor Station. Field personnel have verified the integrity of the facilities associated with receipts from 47 of those receipt points, which were flowing about 510 MMcf/d prior to Ivan. Currently those 47 points are flowing about 455 MMcf/d. The remaining 21 locations still are completely shut in under a force majeure.

Meanwhile, sister pipeline unit Tennessee Gas said one meter remains shut in upstream of Station 523 (Cocodrie) on its 26 inch diameter Bluewater line, two meters are shut in on its 36 inch diameter line, two meters are shut in on the Bay Marchand Central Gathering Structure, its South Pass 77 527A-700 Line and South Pass 49 527A-1300 Line remain shut down and one meter is shut in on its South Pass 55 Central Gathering Platform.

©Copyright 2004 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.