By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 21 -- Mariner Energy Inc., Houston, started gas production Feb. 15 from two-well Bass Lite field in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
The wells in 6,750 ft of water on Atwater Valley Block 425 represent one of the gulf's deepest deepwater developments. Initial production of 60 MMcfd of biogenic gas flows via a 56-mile subsea tieback to the Devil's Tower spar on Mississippi Canyon Block 773.
Mariner, operator with 42.2% working interest, discovered the field in 2000 and estimated it will attain peak output of 125 MMcfd later in 2008. The initial rate is limited by the production system designed to achieve early production pending further topside upgrades. ENI SpA of Italy owns the other interest.
Mariner said Bass Lite "employs the second longest flowline for a subsea tieback and the longest umbilical utilizing fiber optics for primary control ever deployed in the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, the steel catenary riser used to tie-in to the Devil's Tower production facility appears to be the first designed and approved in accordance with the new MMS storm criteria for the Gulf of Mexico."
