First production flows from Independence Hub

Offshore staff

HOUSTON --First production at Independence Hub began July 19, reports the Atwater Valley Producers Group and Hub owners Enterprise Products Partners LP and Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc. The producers expect to ramp production up to 1 bcf/d by the end of the year.

The Independence Hub is the deepest production platform, in 8,000 ft (2,438 m) of water 123 mi (198 km) off Biloxi, Mississippi, in the Gulf of Mexico. It also is the world's largest offshore gas processing facility.

First sales were from the Atlas 1 well on Lloyd Ridge block 50. The well is expected to ramp up to a rate of approximately 50 MMcf/d of gas over the next week. Most of the additional 14 wells have been completed and flow-tested and will be brought on stream one at a time during 2007.

The Independence Hub is a 105-ft (32 m), deep-draft, semisubmersible platform with a two-level production deck. The platform is operated by Anadarko Petroleum Corp. and owned 80% by Enterprise and 20% by Helix. Anadarko has reserved approximately 61% of the capacity on the Hub, Eni approximately 20%, Hydro 12.5%, and Devon Energy Corp. 6.5%.

The Independence Trail pipeline, owned and operated by Enterprise, connects the Hub to onshore via an interconnect with the Tennessee Gas Pipeline at Enterprise's West Delta block 68 shallow-water manifold platform.

The Atwater Producers Group consists of Anadarko, Devon, Eni, and Hydro.

07/20/2007