Project Updates

1) Following the safe and successful completion of the seismic work in Patch 1, work in Patch 2 has started. The public may see and hear continued activity on Lake Maurepas. Cleanup is being done as work is conducted.

2) Subsurface seismic survey work is done only during daylight hours. The public may see general operations in the early mornings and evenings.

3) Geophones are visible on the lake.

4) Air Products has established a crab trap damage reimbursement policy. Contact 225-250-7995 or lahydrog@airproducts.com for more information.

5) Air Products has a project management trailer and laydown area at Port Manchac and a seismic survey staging area located across from Middendorf's Restaurant.

6) There are no Air Products activities on Lake Pontchartrain.

1) We are continuing work on the test wells and subsurface seismic study on the lake so increased activity may be seen and heard. Routinely, subsurface seismic survey work is done only during daylight hours. At times, general operations may be seen in the early mornings and evenings. Lake cleanup is being done as work is conducted.

2) Geophones are currently visible on the lake.

3) Air Products' established a crab trap damage reimbursement policy contact information is below.

4) Air Products has a project management trailer and laydown area at Port Manchac and a seismic survey staging area is located across from Middendorf's Restaurant.

5) Southeastern Louisiana University completed a draft copy of a baseline historical report on Lake Maurepas, which will soon be made available to the public.

6) There are no current activities on Lake Pontchartrain.

1) We are continuing work on the test wells and seismic study on the lake; therefore, increased activity may be seen and heard. Lake cleanup is being done as work is conducted.

2) Geophones (about the size of a dinner plate) are currently visible on the lake to measure sound waves.

3) Air Products' established crab trap damage reimbursement policy contact information is below.

4) Air Products has a project management trailer and laydown area at Port Manchac.

5) A seismic survey staging area is located across from Middendorf's Restaurant (off Hwy. 51). A ramp was recently added and a jack up barge is on site.

6) Southeastern Louisiana University completed a draft copy of a baseline historical report on Lake Maurepas, which will soon be made available to the public.

7) There are no current activities on Lake Pontchartrain.

1) We are continuing work on the test wells and seismic study on the lake; therefore, increased activity may be seen and heard.

2) Geophones (about the size of a dinner plate) are currently visible on the lake to measure sound waves.

3) Air Products' established crab trap damage reimbursement policy contact information is below.

4) Air Products has a project management trailer and laydown area at Port Manchac.

5) A seismic survey staging area is located across from Middendorf's Restaurant (off Hwy. 51). A ramp was recently added and a jack up barge is on site.

6) Southeastern Louisiana University is conducting environmental testing of Lake Maurepas and will provide a baseline environmental report.

7) There are no current activities on Lake Pontchartrain.

1) Expect to see increased project preparatory activity and boat traffic on Lake Maurepas.

2) Geophones, to measure sound waves, will be temporarily placed in the "Phase One" area of the lake. They are about the size of a dinner plate and will be visible on the lake.

3) Air Products has established a crab trap damage reimbursement policy. Questions may be directed to the contact info below.

4) Air Products has a project management trailer and storage area at Port Manchac.

5) A seismic survey staging area is located across from Middendorf's Restaurant (off Hwy. 51). A ramp was recently added and a jack up barge is on site.

6) Southeastern Louisiana University is conducting environmental testing of Lake Maurepas and will provide a baseline environmental report.

7) There are no current activities on Lake Pontchartrain.

1) Air Products held its promised seismic demonstration at Lake Maurepas on Monday, December 5.

2) As part of the project's next steps, expect to see mobilization and increased boat traffic on Lake Maurepas. No seismic testing will be conducted this week.

3) Air Products has established a crab trap damage reimbursement policy. Questions may be directed to the contact info below.

4) Air Products has a project management trailer and storage area at Port Manchac.

5) A seismic survey staging area is located across from Middendorf's Restaurant (off Hwy. 51). A ramp was recently added and a jack up barge is on site.

6) Southeastern Louisiana University is conducting environmental testing of Lake Maurepas and will provide a baseline environmental report.

7) There are no current activities on Lake Pontchartrain.

1) Air Products will hold the rescheduled seismic demonstration on Monday, December 5.

2) Southeastern Louisiana University is conducting environmental testing of Lake Maurepas and will provide a baseline environmental report.

3) Air Products met with a group of Lake Maurepas crab fisherman and has established a crab trap damage reimbursement policy.

4) Air Products has a project management trailer and storage area at Port Manchac.

5) A seismic survey staging area is located across from Middendorf's Restaurant (off Hwy. 51). A ramp was recently added and a jack up barge is on site.

6) Several project boats are assessing and mapping Lake Maurepas and there are no current activities on Lake Pontchartrain. 

1) Air Products has filed an application for a Class V Stratigraphic Test Well to be located in the northern part of Lake Maurepas. Air Products has already received the Office of Coastal Management and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits for this well.

2) Southeastern Louisiana University began environmental testing of Lake Maurepas in October and is gathering information to provide a baseline environmental report.

3) Air Products recently met with a group of Lake Maurepas crab fisherman and established a crab trap damage reimbursement policy.

4) Air Products has a trailer and storage area used for project management at Port Manchac.

5) A seismic survey staging area is located across from Middendorf's Restaurant (off Hwy. 51). A ramp was recently added to the access platform at the wharf. Additionally, a jack up barge is expected to be placed in the water this week.

6) There are currently several project boats assessing and mapping Lake Maurepas.

7) Air Products is planning a demonstration to show what is involved with seismic testing. A date will be announced soon.

8) No activities are currently being conducted on Lake Ponchartrain. 

September 19, 2022

In addition to the subsurface survey, Air Products has begun preliminary work to install two stratigraphic test wells on Lake Maurepas. The purpose is to further confirm the geology beneath Lake Maurepas as suitable for permanent sequestration of CO2. 
Air Products received the necessary permits to conduct this test well work in the lake's south location from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana Office of Coastal Management. 

The test wells and associated activities are not expected to increase the noise or adversely affect access for residents or recreational and commercial users of Lake Maurepas.

The proposed activities would be conducted in phases to avoid disruptions to normal lake and adjacent marsh access.

Activities will include deepening two sections of an existing channel that will be used for barge and drill rig access to Lake Maurepas, well pad construction, well installation at two proposed locations and a staging area at Port Manchac.

A staging area will be located at the Port Manchac facility; no modifications will be made to existing facilities.

Minor dredging and propwash preliminary work began September 16 and will end October 27, 2022. The work is being conducted to allow access for a drilling rig and rock barge. The barge will enter Lake Maurepas from Lake Pontchartrain via Pass Manchac. Tugs will be used to move the barge through the navigation channel.

Dredging will only be implemented on Lake Pontchartrain near the entrance to Pass Manchac. 

Propwash will be used to improve passage at one location on Lake Maurepas near the entrance to Pass Manchac (west of Akers).
 
Propwash will also be utilized to prepare the drill pad locations at the south and north test well sites.

Total dredging and propwash is approximately 39,700 cubic yards, placing the coverage under programmatic general permit (PGP#1).

Other channel improvements include stump removal. 

The south test well drilling will start in November 2022. The north test well drilling will start in January 2023. These activities will be completed in April 2023.

A 16’ X 7’ platform will be installed to protect the test well locations.

The completed wells may be left in place for potential use as sequestration monitoring wells if testing confirms the geology is suitable for carbon sequestration.

A supplemental plan for plugging, capping, and/or removing the test wells will be provided if the area is deemed unsuitable for carbon sequestration. 

July 27, 2022

Air Products will construct a state-of-the-art clean energy complex in Ascension Parish. This clean energy complex will make Louisiana a leader in the U.S. clean energy transition. The project will produce clean hydrogen and feature the world’s largest site for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and permanent sequestration. Carbon sequestration is permanent, proven and an environmentally sound disposition of CO2. Louisiana’s geology is some of the best in the world for sequestration. Approximately 95 percent of the CO2 generated at the new facility will be captured, compressed, and transported safely to permanent sequestration sites (geologic pore space) beneath Lake Maurepas. Air Products has received approval from the State Mineral and Energy Board – part of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources – for the permanent sequestration of the CO2 in this area. The permanent sequestration area is approximately one mile beneath the surface and will have no effect on water tables. A seismic survey of Lake Maurepas is to begin in October 2022 through Spring 2023. A seismic survey is a 3D visual safety inspection of underground geology to help ensure the safest places to permanently store CO2 are assessed and confirmed. This survey is required as part of the permitting process.

The survey will be conducted by Exoduas Inc. in six phases, allowing continued boating access and recreation on the lake. Sound waves similar to a fish finder will produce 3D images of underground geologic structures. These sound waves are produced using small charges 60 feet beneath the water bottom. Passive receiver units called “nodal geophones” will record sound waves from the source points to map the subsurface formations in the area. Receivers are approximately 8” high and 3” in diameter and will be placed on cane poles (seismic source location markers) at the surface of the water and on land areas north and southeast of the lake.

For more information, please contact: lahydrog@airproducts.com.