ExxonMobil has started oil production at its US$4 billion Julia oil field in the Gulf of Mexico with the first production well currently online, and a second well set to start production in the coming weeks, the supermajor announced.
|
|
|
Image of the Maersk Viking, from Maersk. |
Exxon's initial development phase for Julia uses subsea tie-backs to the Chevron-operated Jack/St. Malo production facility located 15mi away, which reduces the need for additional infrastructure and enhancing capital efficiency. The company is also utilizing subsea pumps that have one of the deepest applications and highest design pressures in the industry to date, Exxon said.
Julia is located approximately 265mi southwest of New Orleans in the ultra deepwater Walker Ridge area in more than 7000ft water depth. It is thought to contain some 6 billion bbl of resources in place.
The Maersk Viking drillship is in the process of drilling a third well that Exxon anticipates to come online in early 2017. Production results will assist in the evaluation of additional wells included in the initial development phase, which has a design capacity of 34,000 b/d. Initial production will also provide the company with insight into the potential future development of the reservoir.
“Successful deepwater developments like Julia, located more than 30,000 feet below the ocean’s surface, benefit from ExxonMobil’s disciplined project execution capabilities and commitment to developing quality resources using advanced technology,” said Neil W. Duffin, president of ExxonMobil Development Co.
Discovered in 2007, the Julia field comprises five leases, WR-584, WR-627, WR-628, WR-540 and WR-583, and is one of the first large oil discoveries in the ultra-deepwater frontier of the Gulf of Mexico.
ExxonMobil is the operator, with partner Statoil Gulf of Mexico LLC with each holding 50% interest.
ExxonMobil is on track to start up 10 new upstream projects in 2016 and 2017, adding 450,000 boe/d of working-interest production capacity. The company is enhancing resource value through production optimization, technology application and cost management.
Read more:
Subscribe
