Noble Energy started production at Gunflint in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, the Houston-based explorer announced today (21 July).
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Map of Gunflint, from Noble Energy. |
The Gunflint oil development, in Mississippi Canyon Block 948, is a subsea tieback to the Gulfstar One facility owned by Williams Partners and Marubeni Corp.
The two-well field is ramping up and is anticipated to reach a minimum gross production of 20,000 boe/d, with oil representing approximately 75% of the volumes produced, with 5000 boe/d net to Noble.
According to Noble, Gunflint has the potential for additional volumes dependent upon available capacity at the third-party host facility.
Gunflint marks the fourth major offshore project completed in the past nine months for Noble Energy, following the start-up of GoM projects Big Bend in October 2015 and Dantzler in November 2015; in addition to the Marathon Oil-operated Alba B3 compression platform in Equatorial Guinea last week.
"Our drilling and completions teams delivered impressive technical accomplishments on the Gunflint development, including several innovative first time techniques for the industry,” Hodge Walker, Noble Energy VP, Gulf of Mexico and West Africa said. “The coordination of simultaneous operations, including topside modifications at the floating production system and subsea well activities, is an accomplishment for all involved.”
“The project was completed on time and under budget and will provide significant impact to Noble Energy as we progress through the rest of the year and into 2017," Walker concluded.
Partly due to some of Noble’s GoM projects, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has estimated oil production in the Gulf of Mexico to reach record high levels in 2017.
In February, Noble set out its plans to decrease its capital program by 50% for 2016, and to allot US$250 million for its GoM projects.
Noble Energy operates the Gunflint field with 31.14% stake. Partners include Ecopetrol America (31.50%), Samson Offshore Mapleleaf (19.13%), and Marathon Oil Corp. (18.23%).
Read more:
Marathon sees first gas from Alba B3
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