Enbridge is looking to restart operations on its Garden Banks pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) as soon as communications are restored following damage from Hurricane Laura in late August.
The company declared force majeure on the Garden Banks and the Nautilus lines after inspecting the facilities, but only the Nautilus has started back up. The posted end date for the Garden Bank notice is listed as 26 November.
The 1 Bcf/D Garden Banks pipeline extends from Garden Banks Block 128 to South Marsh Island Block 76, where it interconnects with four existing interstate pipelines to move gas onshore.
The pipeline also connects the Auger, Enchilada, Baldpate South Marsh Island, and the Magnolia platforms.
Enbridge said the South Marsh Island 76 platform was undamaged, but communications were down. The company added that the platform will stay down until communications are restored. A valve on South Marsh Island platform was closed when it was evacuated impacting the Sea Robin delivery point and is currently unavailable.
The category 4 hurricane made landfall near Cameron, Louisiana, between Port Arthur, Texas, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, on 27 August.
As Hurricane Laura approached, offshore operators shut in at least 1.554 million B/D, accounting for 84% of the region’s output. In a 25 August update, the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement added that almost 61% of offshore natural gas production was believed to be curtailed.