Fourchon’s fate rests on OCS legislation, deepwater growth
David Paganie
“We have clearly been the main shorebase for support of deepwater activity in the GoM, and we anticipate that this role will increase because the efficiencies that exist in Fourchon don’t exist anywhere else in the Gulf,” says Falgout.
As a result, the port continues an aggressive construction and expansion plan.
Northern Expansion
In 2001, construction began on the 4,000-acre Northern Expansion project, which will more than double the size of the port. Construction on Phase I continues. It includes a 700-acre site with 180 acres of non-waterfront property and 520 acres with 21,000 linear ft (6,400 m) of water frontage. Construction of 1,707 m (5,600 ft) of waterfront in Slip B of the expansion is finished and leased. New lessees include C-Terminal, Delmar, Expert Riser Solutions, Grand Isle Shipyard, Southern Tank Specialist, Express Weld, InterMoor, and US Liquids.
This year, the port plans to begin construction on an additional 1,097 m (3,600 ft) of bulkhead, which is expected to be complete in early 2008. Tiger Tanks LLC already has leased 427 m (1,400 ft) of the new bulkhead.
Airport construction
Another element of the port’s strategic plan is the acquisition of the South Lafourche Leonard Miller Jr. Airport. The port acquired the airport in 2002 to serve as an additional transportation link to Port Fourchon. It’s a 35-km (22-mi) drive or 10-minute helicopter ride between points.
Phases I and II, which extend the airport runway from 1,158 m to 1,981 m (3,800 ft to 6,500 ft), are complete. “With this improvement, more corporate aviation is visiting. Most of the people are in the seaport, but others are people wanting to access world-class recreation opportunities,” says Falgout.
Phase III, scheduled to be complete in the first half of this year, includes installation of airfield lighting and electrical requirements. Phase IV, also scheduled for completion this year, will strengthen the runway to accommodate wheel loads up to 75,000 pounds. This will allow commercial-type passenger and freight planes to use the runway. “If oil and gas stays at these levels and the money continues to flow, there are going to be more companies getting jets and using private air transportation in their business, and we see our airport fitting this need,” says Falgout.
Three new companies plan to build their own hangers at the airport to accommodate their own specific aviation needs.
The port commission is also in the planning and design stages for construction of an instrument landing system, approach lighting system, safety areas improvements, and full parallel taxiway. These improvements are scheduled to be complete in 2008.
While the airport is transitioning from a small aircraft recreational facility into a premiere corporate facility, it also “will be a vital component in the matrix of transportation, service, and support facilities for the GoM deepwater oil market,” says Beau Martin, port commissioner.
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Volume 67 Issue 3
March 2007
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