Due to operational problems with high liquids on the Matagorda Offshore Pipeline System (MOPS) offshore Texas, all production on MOPS was shut in Tuesday until further notice. The action affected 50 MMcf/d into Florida Gas Transmission at their Refugio, TX interconnect and also affected unspecified amounts in force majeure declarations at MOPS’ MidCon Texas Pipeline and Koch Gateway (Gulf South) McFaddin delivery points.

Based on the projected path of Hurricane Lili, Columbia Gulf said there is a possibility that the Pecan Island processing plant on the coast of Louisiana may have to be evacuated. If that becomes necessary, Columbia Gulf will have to shut in gas flowing on the Western Shoreline segment of its Bluewater System. A pipeline spokesman said Vermilion Parish authorities could order an evacuation as early as Wednesday morning, which would force the Pecan Island shutdown and render any Western Shoreline gas normally received through the plant unsuitable for Columbia Gulf.

Due to the threat of offshore production losses, Sonat has postponed scheduled maintenance on the 14-inch Logansport Line and the Perryville (LA) Regulator Station until Oct. 22-24. The work previously had been set for Oct. 1-3 (see Daily GPI, Sept. 20). It will reduce capacity upstream of Perryville by about 120 MMcf/d for the full three days and will bar acceptance of any receipts upstream of Logansport (LA) Compressor Station for six to eight hours on Oct. 23.

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