On August 20, 2001, Freeport McMoRan Sulphur LLC (Freeport) submitted to the MMS Gulf of Mexico OCS Region a proposal to inject exploration and production (E&P) waste at their facilities in Main Pass 299. Main Pass Block 299 is located approximately 16 miles offshore Louisiana, east of the Mississippi River delta, in 200 feet of water.  In 1988, the MMS issued a salt and sulphur lease for Main Pass 299 to Freeport.  Freeport constructed a multi-structure complex (extending 1 mile in length, covering an area equivalent to nearly 7 acres) and a separate control platform.  This complex includes a series of platforms, all of which are connected by a supported bridge.  Construction cost for this complex was approximately one billion dollars.  In August 2000, sulphur production ceased.  The lease is now held by the production of salt in the form of brine. 

Freeport proposes to inject 1 to 8 million barrels of E&P waste annually.  This waste will be only non-hazardous oilfield wastes (NOW).  The wastes would be injected through well tubing into salt caverns or within leached barren sections of a caprock formation overlying the salt dome.  Freeport plans to use an existing platform as the host facility and make only minor changes to that platform.  This operation would involve the disposing of wastes generated from various OCS E&P operations throughout the Gulf of Mexico, and would represent the first commercial waste disposal operation on the OCS.  However, the MMS routinely approves on-lease downhole disposal of E&P wastes.

The MMS has initiated technical, engineering, inspection compliance and environmental reviews of Freeport's proposal.  The MMS is preparing a programmatic environmental assessment (EA) to ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.  The EA is currently targeted for completion in July of 2002.  A decision may be made in October - November 2002.  In February 2002, the MMS Gulf of Mexico OCS Region issued a Federal Register notice announcing the preparation of this EA and a public scoping meeting to be held on February 21, 2002 in New Orleans at the Regional Office.

E&P Waste Disposal Applications Index