[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 149 (Thursday, August 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40295-40296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19223]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for TotalFinaElf 
Exploration and Production USA, Inc.'s (TotalFinaElf) and Williams 
Field Services--Gulf Coast Company, L.P. (Williams) Pipeline and 
Platform Applications (Canyon Express and Canyon Station Pipeline 
Applications)

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Preparation of an environmental assessment and notice of 
unlisted activities pursuant to 15 CFR 930.54.

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    Note: This FR Notice replaces the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
Minerals Management Service FR Notice/Vol. 66, No. 119, Wednesday, 
June 20, 2001/Page 33109 for above subject


SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is preparing an 
environmental assessment (EA) for a proposed deepwater project to 
develop and produce hydrocarbon reserves about 70 miles offshore 
Louisiana and about 90 miles south of Alabama in Mississippi Canyon 
Block 348 (Camden Hills Prospect), Mississippi Canyon Block 305 
(Aconcagua Prospect), and DeSoto Canyon Blocks 133 and 177 and 
Mississippi Canyon Block 217 (Kings Peak Prospect) in the Central and 
Eastern Planning Areas. This Notice provides additional information 
about the proposed activities and replaces the Notice published on June 
20, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 
70123-2394, Mr. Alvin Jones, telephone (504) 736-1713.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This EA implements the tiering process 
outlined in 40 CFR 1502.20, which encourages agencies to tier 
environmental documents, eliminating repetitive discussions of the same 
issue. By use of tiering to the most recent final environmental impact 
statement (EIS) for the Gulf of Mexico Central Planning Area for Lease 
Sales 169, 172, 175, 178, and 182 and by referencing related 
environmental documents, this EA concentrates on environmental issues 
specific to the proposed action. This Notice also provides constructive 
notification of these activities pursuant to 15 CFR 930.54.
    The MMS Gulf of Mexico Region received Pipeline Right-of-Way (ROW) 
Applications from TotalFinaElf E&P USA, Inc., that propose to 
construct, maintain, and operate pipelines and umbilicals and produce 
the hydrocarbon reserves discovered in the Camden Hills field 
[Mississippi Canyon (MC) Block 348], the Aconcagua field (MC Block 
305), and the Kings Peak field (MC Blocks 217 and 173; DeSoto Canyon 
(DC) Blocks 133 and 177). The Region also received a Right-of-Use and 
Easement application from Williams Field Services, Gulf Coast Company, 
L.P., for the installation and operation of a hydrocarbon processing 
platform located in Main Pass (MP) Block 261, which will receive 
production from the Camden Hills, Aconcagua, and Kings Peak fields. The 
combined Applications are referred to as the Canyon Express / Station 
Project. TotalFinaElf is the designated operator (DO) for the Canyon 
Express system, which includes the Camden Hills field [leased by 
Marathon Oil Company (DO)]; the Aconcagua field [leased by TotalFinaElf 
(DO)]; and the Kings Peak field, [leased by BP; (DO)]. The proposed 
Canyon Station processing platform would be installed and operated by 
Williams Field Services and would be within 100 km of the Breton 
National Wildlife Refuge. Between nine and eleven wells that were 
proposed under previously-approved Plans and Development Operations 
Coordination Documents will be operated by TotalFinaElf. Williams' 
proposed platform would receive gas and condensate from the Canyon 
Express Project and export the gas through four proposed export 
pipelines to four existing pipelines, all within MP Block 261. The 
Canyon Express/Station Project, which includes all export lines, flow 
lines, supply lines, jumpers, and umbilicals, consists of 32 individual 
pipeline segments to be permitted as ROW and lease-term pipelines and 
one host platform to be permitted as a Right-of-Use and Easement.
    The Canyon Express ROW Applications consist of 28 ROW and lease-
term pipeline segments. The lengths of pipeline segments range from 60 
feet to over 55 miles. The water depth ranges from 7,265 feet in MC 
Block 348 to 299 feet at the proposed host platform in MP Block 261. 
TotalFinaElf will use a support base located in Fourchon, Louisiana, to 
support pipelaying activities associated with the Canyon Express 
Project. Some segments and portions of the proposed Canyon Express 
pipeline originate in and/or traverse six blocks in the Eastern 
Planning Area.
    The Canyon Station Right-of-Use and Easement processing platform 
application consists of a processing platform and four export pipeline 
applications all within the Central

[[Page 40296]]

Planning Area's MP Block 261. The water depth of the four export 
pipelines ranges from 282 to 307 feet. The average length of the four 
proposed export pipelines is 1.12 miles. Williams will initially use a 
support base in Venice, Louisiana, and switch operations to Mobile, 
Alabama, once production commences.
    The two Canyon Express main flowlines are 12.75 inches in diameter 
and extend about 55 miles starting in MC Block 348 to MP Block 261. 
Outer Continental Shelf areas and blocks traversed by the Canyon 
Express/Station proposed pipelines are as follows: MC Blocks 348, 349, 
305, 261, 217, 173, 85, and 41; DC Blocks 265, 221, 177, 133, 89, and 
45 (within the Eastern Planning Area); Viosca Knoll (VK) Blocks 1003, 
1002, 958, 914, 913, 869, 825, 824, 781, 780, 736, and 692; and MP 
Blocks 282, 261, and 260. The MC, VK, and MP areas and blocks are in 
the Central Planning Area. No additional drilling operations are 
considered as a part of this project.
    Gas and condensate produced at the Camden Hills, Aconcagua, and 
Kings Peak fields will be transported to the proposed platform in MP 
Block 261. No single field contains sufficient reserves to economically 
justify development costs. The total reserves in the three fields are 
estimated as high as 900 billion cubic feet of gas. Greater than 99 
percent of this gas is pure methane. Maximum Canyon Express hydrocarbon 
flow rate is 500 million cubic feet (0.5 BCF) per day with 
approximately 1,500 barrels of condensate per day. Canyon Express 
pipelines will be laid using a dynamically positioned vessel and 
construction time is estimated at about 90 days. Installation of the 
host platform, export lines, and production equipment for Canyon 
Station is expected to take several months.
    The nearest distance of the Canyon Express easternmost flowline in 
DC Block 45 (in the Eastern Planning Area) is 98 miles from the Florida 
shoreline, 89 miles from the Alabama shoreline, 93 miles from the 
Mississippi shoreline, and 68 miles from the Louisiana shoreline. The 
nearest distance of the proposed host platform (in the Central Planning 
Area's MP Block 261) is 74 miles from the Florida shoreline, 60 miles 
from the Alabama shoreline, 63 miles from the Mississippi shoreline, 
and 56 miles from the Louisiana shoreline.
    This EA will analyze the environmental effects and alternatives 
associated with the construction, maintenance, and operation of the 
pipelines and host platform as proposed by TotalFinaElf and Williams. 
Alternatives will include the proposed action with additional 
mitigations and no action (i.e., disapproval of the plan).
    For more information regarding the Canyon Express and Canyon 
Station applications, please visit those documents at http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/offshore/canyon/. For more information about 
pipelines, impacts associated with pipelaying activities, and 
mitigative measures, please visit the document at http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/offshore/canyon/pipe_install.pdf.
    Public Comments: The MMS requests interested parties to submit 
comments regarding issues that should be addressed in the EA to 
Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Office of 
Leasing and Environment, Attention: Regional Supervisor (MS 5400), 1201 
Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394. Comments 
must be submitted no later than 30 days from the publication date of 
this Notice.

    Dated: July 3, 2001.
Charles J. Schoennagel,
Deputy Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
[FR Doc. 01-19223 Filed 8-1-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P