Chevron starts up Big Foot field 8 years after sanction

U.S. oil major Chevron has kicked off oil and gas production from its deepwater project Big Foot, located in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

Discovered in 2006, the Big Foot field sits some 225 miles (360 km) south of New Orleans, La., in a water depth of approximately 5,200 feet (1,584 m.).

The Big Foot field is considered to contain total recoverable resources of more than 200 million oil-equivalent barrels and has a projected production life of 35 years.

Chevron has developed the Gulf of Mexico offshore oil and gas field using a 15-slot drilling and production tension-leg platform. According to the California-based oil giant, the platform is the deepest of its kind in the world, and is designed for a capacity of 75,000 barrels of oil and 25 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.

“The Big Foot project strengthens Chevron’s deepwater portfolio and further demonstrates that the Gulf of Mexico is an integral part of our diverse global portfolio and long-term strategy,” said Jeff Shellebarger, President of Chevron North America Exploration and Production. “The project advances our interest in safely providing reliable, affordable energy to meet a growing global demand.”

Chevron sanctioned the Big Foot project in December 2010 saying at the time the development would cost around $4 billion.

Constructed in South Korea, the TLP was finished in December 2012 and arrived at Corpus Christi, Texas in March 2013. Integration and onshore commissioning activities were completed at Kiewit’s yard in Ingleside in January 2015 and offshore installation of the tendons started that same month. The platform was towed offshore in March that year.

The production from the Big Foot project was supposed to start in late 2015. However, the installation of the platform on the field was interrupted in May 2015 due to the sinking of tendons which were supposed to connect the platform to the seabed. The work on the installation was suspended and the TLP then returned to Ingleside for more work.

Chevron’s subsidiary, Chevron U.S.A. Inc., is the operator of Big Foot with a 60 percent working interest. Co-owners are Equinor Gulf of Mexico LLC (27.5%) and Marubeni Oil & Gas (USA) LLC (12.5%).

Offshore Energy Today Staff