Hess: Production kicks off at Tubular Bells

Hess Corporation-operated Tubular Bells deepwater project, located in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, has started crude oil and natural gas production.

The field is located 135 miles (217 km) southeast of New Orleans, in approximately 4,300 feet (1,310 m) of water in the Mississippi Canyon area. The discovery well was drilled in 2003, and project construction began in October 2011.

Tubular Bells is expected to deliver total production of approximately 50,000 barrels of oil- equivalent per day producing from three wells.

“This important achievement demonstrates our ability to successfully execute highly complex, deepwater development projects,” said John Hess, chief executive officer. “We are proud to deliver Tubular Bells safely and on budget. One year after Hess took over as operator, the project was sanctioned and fast tracked with an execution schedule to first oil in just three years.”

“We are proud to deliver Tubular Bells safely and on budget. One year after Hess took over as operator, the project was sanctioned and fast tracked with an execution schedule to first oil in just three years.”

The Tubular Bells Field was discovered in 2003 and the development was sanctioned in October 2011. It lies in approximately 4,300 feet of water, 135 miles southeast of New Orleans.

Tubular Bells utilizes the first classic spar built in the United States. The design and construction were done entirely in the U.S. creating an estimated 7,000 direct and indirect jobs in Texas and Louisiana.

“The deepwater Gulf of Mexico plays a significant part in our earnings and production growth. Achieving first oil at Tubular Bells is an important step towards Chevron achieving its production goal of 3.1 million barrels per day by 2017,” said George Kirkland, vice chairman and executive vice president, Upstream, Chevron Corporation, which owns a stake in the field.

“Tubular Bells is expected to deliver total production of approximately 50,000 barrels of oil- equivalent per day producing from three wells.”

“Tubular Bells and the Chevron-operated Jack/St. Malo project further strengthens Chevron’s deepwater portfolio,” said Jay Johnson, senior vice president, Upstream, Chevron Corporation. Jack/St. Malo, a large lower Tertiary development, is scheduled to be brought online later this year.

“This project’s success is the result of our strong business relationship with Hess, reinforcing our commitment to achieve results with excellence, and enabling new opportunities in this strategic area,” said Jeff Shellebarger, president, Chevron North America Exploration and Production Company.

The Tubular Bells production facility is producing from the Miocene trend. The field has an estimated production life of 25 years.

Chevron subsidiary Chevron U.S.A. Inc. has a 42.86 percent working interest in the Tubular Bells development and Hess is the operator with a 57.14 percent working interest in the field.

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