BP Exploration Inc. and partners have started up Troika oil and gas field in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
Troika, 150 miles south of New Orleans in the Green Canyon area, is produced from subsea facilities in 2,700 ft of water.
The field was discovered by Marathon Oil Co. in 1994 (OGJ, July 25, 1997, p. 112). BP Exploration Inc. is operator of the project.
BP, Marathon, and Shell Deepwater Development Inc. are equal partners in Troika.
Development
Marathon drilled the Troika discovery well on Green Canyon Block 244. The project now includes Blocks 200, 201, and 245.
Initial flow from the first of five planned wells is 6,500 boed.
"The rate at this well could increase to 30,000 boed or more as the well comes into full production," said BP.
Troika production is expected to peak at 80,000 b/d of oil and 140 MMcfd of gas in 1998. BP expects ultimate recovery to exceed 200 million boe.
When all five wells come on stream, Troika output will flow from the wells through a subsea manifold and on to separation and treatment facilities on Shell Offshore Inc.'s Bullwinkle platform.
In preparation for Troika production, Shell increased processing capacity on the platform to 200,000 b/d from 55,000 b/d.
The 14-mile flow line between the Troika subsea manifold and Bullwinkle platform sets a Gulf of Mexico record for multiphase flow, according to BP.
"Extending the distance from subsea wells to remote processing facilities makes possible developments that might not otherwise be developed because reserves are too small to justify the cost of stand-alone production facilities," said the company.
Troika oil is transported to shore through the Amberjack and Poseidon pipelines. Troika gas is transported via the Manta Ray/Nautilus pipeline system.
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