Discovery will construct a 346 km, 20 inch diameter subsea natural gas gathering pipeline – the Keathley Canyon Connector – for production from the Keathley Canyon, Walker Ridge and Green Canyon areas in the central deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

Discovery has signed long-term agreements with the Lucius and Hadrian South owners for natural gas gathering and processing services for production from those fields.

The approximately $US600 million Keathley Canyon Connector will originate in the southeast portion of the Keathley Canyon area and terminate into Discovery’s 30 inch diameter mainline near South Timbalier Block 283. The pipeline will be capable of gathering more than 400 MMcf/d of natural gas.

Construction on the project is expected to begin in 2013, with a mid-2014 expected in-service date.

Williams Partners owns 60 per cent interest in Discovery as operator, with DCP Midstream holding the remaining 40 per cent.