After sitting at 2.3 Bcf/d for a week, Gulf of Mexico gas production shut-ins due to damage from Hurricane Ivan finally started heading back down again over the weekend as repairs to Destin Pipeline and Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s Bluewater system contributed to the return of about 23 production platforms.

According to the Minerals Management Service (MMS), as of 11:30 a.m. on Monday 22 companies were reporting 16 manned platforms and two rigs evacuated, compared to 39 platforms and two rigs evacuated last week. Gas and oil shut-ins now total 1,978 MMcf/d and 480,285 bbl/d, respectively, excluding destroyed facilities. About 3,100 bbl/d of oil production and at least 9 MMcf/d of gas production is permanently lost due to five destroyed production platforms. Cumulative production deferred since Sept. 11, now totals 66.126 Bcf of gas and 14.8 million bbl of oil.

Numerous producers who shut in following Ivan had to wait several weeks to return to normal operations because of damage to downstream gathering systems and offshore pipelines, such as Bluewater which suffered leaks to two of its pipelines.

Comstock Resources said Monday that Bois d’Arc Energy LLC’s, in which it owns a 59.9% stake, had to shut in nearly all of its oil and natural gas production for part of September because of Ivan. That resulted in lost production of 40,000 bbl of oil and 300 MMcf of natural gas or 540,000 Mcfe. Bois d’Arc also had three drilling rigs under contract standing idle for a combined total of 22 days.

However, actual damage caused by the storm to Bois d’Arc’s production facilities was minimal and repairs are estimated to cost $1.2 million, the company said. Bois d’Arc also expects that certain of its properties, which are capable of producing 10,000 Mcfe/d, could also be shut-in much of October due to damage to certain pipelines that service these properties.

Destin Pipeline Co. LLC said late Friday its Gulf of Mexico system ended a force majeure event and was accepting gas from all receipt points after being shut due to Hurricane Ivan last month. Due to damage from Hurricane Ivan all offshore production on Destin was shut in on Sept. 13. However, the pipeline continued to receive gas from its onshore interconnects with Petal Gas Storage and the Chandeleur Pipeline. The line is capable of transporting 1.2 Bcf/d. A Destin spokeswoman said that although the pipeline is prepared to receive gas, many of the production platforms upstream of the system are still undergoing repairs. As a result gas flows are much lower than normal.

El Paso Corp. unit Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. said Monday it was able to return the 26-inch diameter line on the Bluewater system to service after repairing a leak that was caused by Hurricane Ivan. Tennessee said it was accepting nominations and gas flow at 20 receipt meters located between Ship Shoal 198 and Station 523. Two receipt points, however, remained shut in.

Southern Natural said Monday that about 140 MMcf/d of gas remains shut in upstream of the Toca plant at 43 receipt meters in the Main Pass area. Damage assessments are continuing. Repairs to Olga Compressor Station also are ongoing.

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