Hess hits first oil from Tubular Bells

Hess Corp. began production from the Tubular Bells field, located in the Mississippi Canyon area of the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

The Tubular Bells floating production facility.
From Hess.

Tubular Bells is located 217km southeast of New Orleans in approximately 4300ft water depth. Stena Drilling’s Stena Forth drillship is drilling at the field.

Hess expects to deliver gross production of approximately 50,000boe/d following ramp-up from three producing wells by year-end.

The Tubular Bells production facility is producing in the Miocene trend and has a production life of an estimated 25 years. The floating production facility is a classic spar hull with traditional three-level topsides and was the first classic spar to be built in the US.

"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,” says John Hess, Hess CEO.

The Tubular Bells Field was discovered in 2003 and the development was sanctioned in October 2011.

Hess is the operator of the field with a 57.14% interest with partner Chevron USA Inc. (42.86%). 

Last month, after a final investment decision, Hess announced it was moving forward with the US$6 billion development of the Stampede field, also located in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Stampede is a joint development of the earlier Knotty Head and Pony discoveries located in three Green Canyon blocks southeast of New Orleans. Plans initially call for six production wells and four water injection wells from two subsea drill centers tied back to a tension leg platform. The first rig of a two-rig drilling program is set to begin operations in 4Q 2015. First production is expected in 2018.

Read more:

Hess sanctions Stampede

Gulfstar system nears completion

Crowley tugs deliver Tubular Bells topside to MC 725

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