Enterprise, Genesis Energy to build crude oil system in deepwater Gulf of Mexico

HOUSTON, Texas - Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD) and Genesis Energy, L.P. (NYSE: GEL) on Jan. 4 announced that they have executed crude oil transportation agreements with a consortium of six Gulf of Mexico producers which will provide the necessary support for construction of a new crude oil gathering pipeline serving the Lucius development area in southern Keathley Canyon.

The producer group is comprised of Anadarko U.S. Offshore Corp., Apache Deepwater Development LLC, Exxon Mobil Corp., Eni Petroleum US LLC, Petrobras America Inc. and Plains Offshore Operations Inc.

The pipeline will be constructed and owned by Southeast Keathley Canyon Pipeline Co. LLC (SEKCO), a 50/50 joint venture between Enterprise and Genesis. Enterprise will serve as construction manager and operator of the new pipeline, earning fees for both services.

The 149-mile, 18-inch SEKCO Oil Pipeline is being designed with a capacity of 115,000 barrels per day b/d) and would connect the Lucius-truss spar floating production platform to an existing junction platform at South Marsh Island 205 that is part of the Enterprise-operated Poseidon pipeline system.

The SEKCO Oil Pipeline is expected to begin service by mid-2014. Located in approximately 7,100 feet of water, the third-party owned Lucius-truss spar floating production platform has the capability to produce in excess of 80,000 b/d of crude oil and 450 million cubic feet per day of natural gas. The Lucius production area is estimated to have more than 300 million barrels of oil equivalent, with relatively shallow and highly productive reservoirs, primarily comprised of crude oil.

"We are very pleased to work with our partner and customers to develop this project, which will allow for the continued safe and reliable delivery of vital domestic crude oil supplies to Gulf Coast refineries," said Michael A. Creel, president and CEO of Enterprise's general partner.

"Additionally, we expect the SEKCO Oil Pipeline to provide capacity for additional projects in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico that will feed Enterprise's downstream crude oil pipeline value chain."