Shell Exploration & Production said the repairs to its massive Mars Tension Leg Platform in Mississippi Canyon 807 in the Gulf of Mexico are going to take longer than expected, keeping about 150,000 b/d of oil and 170 MMcf/d of gas off the market for several more weeks.

The platform was shut down on May 22 after workers noticed a sheen of oil on the water and then discovered damage to the oil pipeline flexjoint (see NGI, May 31). During the more recent inspection of the natural gas line, which was part of the process Shell implemented to ensure that its facility was ready for start up, signs of deterioration to the flexjoint on the gas export pipeline also were observed.

“Our primary concerns are safety and mitigating environmental risk,” said Frank Glaviano, Gulf of Mexico east asset manager. “Although the gas pipeline had not incurred a leak, based on the observed condition, we felt it prudent to also take the gas line out of service and repair its flexjoint in conjunction with the oil pipeline repair.”

As Mars produces associated gas, production will only resume once repairs to both pipelines are completed.

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