Offshore staff
HOUSTON — According to a Reuters report, Shell said on Aug. 11 it halted production at three US Gulf of Mexico deepwater platforms after a leak shut two pipelines connecting the platforms, adding it expected pipeline service to resume on Friday, Aug. 12.
A failure at an onshore pipeline junction in Louisiana leaked about 2 bbl of oil, said Chett Chiasson, executive director of Greater Lafourche Port Commission.
A Shell spokesperson said the leak has been contained, and the company expects the Mars and Amberjack pipelines to return to service on Aug. 12.
Shell said its Mars, Ursa, and Olympus platforms were shut because of the leak. The three are designed to produce up to 410,000 bbl/d of oil combined, according to data on the company's website.
"Shell is coordinating with local authorities and mobilizing personnel and equipment to assess the situation," the company said in a statement.
The three platforms deliver Mars sour crude. Shell said it was evaluating "alternative flow paths" to move the oil to shore via other pipelines.
Fourchon Harbor Police Chief Michael Kinler said there was no sign of vandalism at the booster station, and the amount of oil that leaked was not enough to halt traffic on the waterway or roads.
08.11.2022
