BHP Billiton lets O&M contract for Neptune

BHP Billiton Petroleum (Americans) Inc. let a $4 million contract to John Wood Group PLC to develop a maintenance management system, operating manuals, and start-up procedures for the deepwater Neptune project on Atwater Valley Block 618 in the Gulf of Mexico (OGJ, Apr. 26, 2004, Newsletter).

Feb. 7, 2006

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 7 -- BHP Billiton Petroleum (Americans) Inc. let a $4 million contract to John Wood Group PLC to develop a maintenance management system, operating manuals, and start-up procedures for the deepwater Neptune project on Atwater Valley Block 618 in the Gulf of Mexico (OGJ, Apr. 26, 2004, Newsletter).

BHP Billiton is developing the field with seven subsea wells tied back to a tension leg platform with design production capacities of 50,000 b/d of oil and 50 MMcfd of gas. It expects production to start in 2007.

BHP Billiton operates Block 618 with 35% interest. Partners are Marathon Oil Co. 30%, Woodside Energy (USA) Inc. 20%, and Repsol YPF SA unit Maxus (US) Exploration Co. 15%.