Since OCS production in the Gulf of Mexico has passed its 

 peak, the major development effects in the future will come as 

 a result of the construction of the LOOP and Seadock superport 

 projects. As pointed out earlier (Chapter 2), Seadock will 

 have little effect on refining and petrochemicals in Texas 

 because of projected excess capacity in these industries 

 (Perrin, 1976) . Existing refining and petrochemical 

 capacity in Southeast and Southwest Louisiana and pro- 

 jected capacity through 2010 due to the Louisiana and 

 Texas superports are analyzed in Table 4.6. Refining 

 and petrochemical capacity is expected to increase signi- 

 ficantly to more than double its present capacity. Employ- 

 ment is expected to grow as a result of the operation and 

 construction of the Louisiana Superport facilities and the 

 refineries and petrochemical plants affected by both the 

 Louisiana and Texas Superports (Table 4.7). As can be seen, 

 the most significant impact is expected to occur in the River 



Parish area (including St. James, St. John, St. Charles, 

 Assumption, and Tangipahoa parishes). One reason for the 

 considerable impact here is that 3 of the 4 new refineries 

 projected to result from superport construction are expected 

 to locate here (H.J. Kaiser Company, 1976: 93). It should 

 also be noted that although there are no refineries or petro- 

 chemical plants in the Lafourche area and none are expected to 

 be built there. The onshore facilities of the Louisiana 



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