Shell takes FID for waterflood project at Kaikias in US Gulf

The Kaikias waterflood project, planned to start in 2018, will inject water to displace additional oil, boosting recovery and prolonging the operational life of Shell's Ursa platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dec. 16, 2025

Ursa tension leg platform in the Gulf of Mexico — Shell Offshore will invest in a waterflood project for secondary oil recovery at Kaikias field in the US Gulf of Mexico. Oil in the reservoir supplies production to Shell's Ursa tension leg platform.

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Shell plc subsidiary Shell Offshore Inc. has taken a final investment decision (FID) on a waterflood project for secondary oil recovery at Kaikias field in the US Gulf of Mexico.

Water will be injected to displace additional oil in the reservoir formation which supplies production to Shell's Ursa tension leg platform in the Mars Corridor.

The Kaikias waterflood project is estimated to increase recoverable resource volume by about 60 MMboe (P50) and subsequently expand production at Ursa by “several” years, the company said in a release Dec. 16. First injection is planned for 2018. The estimate of resources volumes is currently classified as 2P.

Kaikias field, 100% owned and operated by Shell, was discovered in 2014 in more than 4,000 ft (1,219 m) of water, about 130 miles (209 km) off the coast of Louisiana.

Production began in May 2018 with flowback to the Ursa platform, in which Shell holds 61.3484% ownership with BP Exploration & Production Inc. (22.6916%) and ECP GOM III LLC (15.96%).