El Paso Energy Partners LP has entered into an agreement with Pioneer Natural Resources Co. and Mariner Energy Inc. to construct, instal, own and operate a new production hub platform and associated facilities for Falcon field on East Breaks Blocks 579, 580, and 623 in the Gulf of Mexico. Pioneer will serve as operator of the field. El Paso anticipates that the new platform, dubbed Falcon Nest, will be completed and on line in the first quarter of 2003. It will construct and own about 20 miles of 18-in. pipeline connecting the platform to an offshore natural gas gathering system. Falcon Nest will be installed in 390ft of water on Mustang Island Block 103 and will have an initial design capacity of 300 MMcfd of natural gas. In addition to the Falcon field blocks, Pioneer and Mariner are dedicating nine blocks in the area for Falcon Nest processing and gathering.
