Chevron: Damage delays Big Foot production

Chevron will move the giant Big Foot tension-leg platform (TLP) to sheltered waters from its location in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico following damage to subsea installation tendons.

The tendons were pre-installed in preparation for connection to the Big Foot TLP. Between Friday, May 29 and Sunday, May 31, 2015, several tendons lost buoyancy.

The Big Foot TLP was not connected to any subsea wells or tendons at the time of the incident and was not damaged. Chevron has said that there are no producing wells at Big Foot at this time. There were no injuries and there has been no release of any fluids to the environment.

Damage to the tendons, which are not connected to subsea wells and are used to attach the TLP to the seafloor, is being assessed. Chevron has also said that first production will not start in late 2015 as planned.