BP's Thunder Horse field reaches full production

Dec. 22, 2008
BP PLC's Thunder Horse field in the ultra-deepwater Gulf of Mexico has reached full production, achieving production of more than 200,000 boe/d.

Uchenna Izundu
International Editor

LONDON, Dec. 22 -- BP PLC's Thunder Horse field in the ultra-deepwater Gulf of Mexico has reached full production, achieving production of more than 200,000 boe/d.

Full operation was reached as BP brought the third and fourth wells on stream in the high–pressure, high-temperature field. Thunder Horse platform is in 6,050 ft of water in Mississippi Canyon about 150 miles southeast of New Orleans.

Thunder Horse platform has the capacity for 250,000 b/d of oil and 200 MMcfd of natural gas. The field began producing in June. In 2005, Hurricane Dennis left the platform listing, which slowed the scheduled start of production.

Production is from reservoirs 14,000-19,000 ft below the seabed with reservoir pressures of 13,000-18,000 psi, said BP, which operates Thunder Horse with 75% interest. ExxonMobil Corp. holds the remaining interest.

Additional production from nearby Thunder Horse North field is scheduled for the first half of 2009.

Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected]