Woodside lets pressure drilling contract for Trion deepwater development

Woodside Energy has let a contract to Weatherford International plc to deliver managed pressure drilling (MPD) services for the Trion project, a deepwater oil production project in Mexico.

The multi-year contract includes MPD services for an initial 8 wells with the potential to expand to 24 wells. The service provider said in a July 28 release.

As part of its second-quarter 2025 report released July 23, Woodside chief executive officer Meg O’Neill said the Trion project offshore Mexico is now 35% complete.

As of the end of the quarter, the company finalized the floating production unit (FPU) detailed engineering and procured all equipment and bulk materials. 

"Construction of the floating production unit [FPU] is progressing well, and we are preparing for construction of the floating storage and offloading vessel to commence in the second half of 2025," O'Neill said. 

Trion project

Trion lies in the in the Perdido Fold Belt in the Gulf of Mexico deepwater (~2,500 m), about 180 km east of the coast of Tamaulipas and 30 km south of the US-Mexico maritime border.

The resource will be developed through an FPU with an oil production capacity of 100,000 b/d. The FPU will be connected to a floating storage offloading (FSO) vessel with a capacity of 950,000 barrels of oil.

Crude is expected to be shipped to international markets, and the development is expected to include 18 wells (9 producers, 7 water injectors, 2 gas injectors) drilled in the initial phase, with a total of 24 wells drilled over the life of the project. Gas not reinjected or used on the FPU is expected to be delivered to the domestic natural gas pipeline network by a subsea gas pipeline. First oil is targeted for 2028.

Woodside Petróleo Operaciones de México, S. de R.L. de C.V. is operator with 60% interest. Petróleos Mexicanos-PEMEX holds the remaining 40%.

Woodside has executed other contracts related to Trion development including, but not limited to:

• The FPU engineering, procurement, and construction contract with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (OGJ Online, Dec. 6, 2023; Jan. 8, 2024).
• The rig contract with Transocean (OGJ Online, Apr. 30, 2025).
• The FPU and FSO installation contract with SBM Offshore (OGJ Online, Aug. 8, 2024).
• The subsea trees contract with OneSubsea UK (OGJ Online, Mar. 14, 2024).
• A drilling contract with SLB (OGJ Online, Mar. 31, 2025). 
• A pipe contract to Corinth Pipeworks (OGJ Online, July 12, 2024).