The Port of Iberia remains a “significant” player in the development of the oil and gas industry.

Local businesses such as the Bayou Companies, Dynamic Industries and J.C. Construction have played major roles in the building of the $17 billion Shell Oil Appomattox Project, Shell’s eighth floating platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The project, given the go-ahead in July 2015, will have a semi-submersible four-column production host platform, a subsea system with six drill centers, 15 producing wells and five water injection wells at 7,200 feet 80 miles offshore from Louisiana.

The port deserves a pat on the back for its part in such a venture, one that when operational after 2020 will produce 175,000 barrels of oil per day.

“It’s a pretty important piece of the program for us. For us, it’s an attractive location. It’s right there in navigable waterways,” Andy Wellbaum said Thursday in The Daily Iberian.

Wellbaum, of New Orleans, is Shell Oil’s external relations adviser.

He also said, “In addition to that, we received the most competitive bids from the companies we are working with there, and we have a long history of working with these companies.”

Dynamic Industries completed and loaded out two modules in January for the Appomattox Project. The company is building three more modules that will be shipped later this year.

Craig Romero, the port’s executive director, said the Bayou Companies invested $14 million in the last two years toward construction of a facility for Shell’s Appomattox Project. The facility, built by J.C. Construction, employs nearly 400 workers.

Romero said, proudly, “That’s where it started. A local company built the plant and now that the plant is operational, it offers long-term jobs. We’ve got a lot of moving parts in Iberia Parish for Shell.

“The Port of Iberia is the beneficiary of the last major project Shell Oil authorized. It’s significant for the industry. It’s a very significant announcement for South Louisiana, more specifically Iberia Parish.”

Mike Tarantino, president and CEO of the Iberia Industrial Development Foundation, agreed and said, “The Shell Appomattox Project is one of the few major oil and gas projects going on worldwide currently. It’s great news to hear that a lot of the work to put the project together is happening here in Iberia Parish. Our reputation for doing quality work continues.”

We all can be proud of this local influence on such a significant project.

DON SHOOPMAN

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR