Williams, the provider of large-scale infrastructure connecting U.S. natural gas and natural gas products to growing demand for cleaner fuel and feedstocks, acquired a deepwater natural gas pipeline system that connects offshore output to its Mobile Bay processing plant.
The 16-inch-diameter Norphlet gas gathering system in the Gulf of Mexico had been placed into service. It was built by affiliates of Royal Dutch Shell and China National Offshore Oil Corp., or CNOOC.
The Norphlet deepwater gathering pipeline system extends to 54 miles from the Shell-operated Appomattox Floating Production System in 7,400-feet of water to the Transco Main Pass 261A junction platform, located approximately 60 miles south of Mobile, Alabama. First gas delivery date occurred on June 22, 2019.
The acquisition extends the reach of the Williams pipeline network by connecting Williams’ existing Transco offshore pipeline lateral to the prolific Jurassic play developed by Shell and CNOOC in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
“We are excited to participate in this Jurassic development with Shell and CNOOC,” said Alan Armstrong, president and chief executive officer of Williams. “Shell has exhibited a tremendous history of successful large-scale developments across the Gulf of Mexico and early indications here are for that to continue in this Jurassic play with their additional discoveries.”
The Norphlet deepwater gas gathering pipeline system, which is capable of gathering an estimated 261 to 291 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of natural gas, connects more than 33,000 acres of dedicated leases, to Williams’ Mobile Bay processing facility via the Transco lateral at the Main Pass 261A junction platform.
The completed project also included the installation of a spare subsea connector for additional floating production system volumes, as well as modifications to Williams’ Mobile Bay processing facility including a 118% expansion to the slug handling capacity and a 329% increase in stabilizing capacity.