Shell combine starts production from innovative system in gulf

Shell Offshore Inc. and partners are producing gas at a deepwater field using the Gulf of Mexico's first subsea, diverless, cluster production system. The group began production Jan. 11 from two subsea Popeye field wells in 2,000 ft of water on Green Canyon Block 116, about 140 miles south of New Orleans. Flow by the end of the month had climbed to 90 MMcfd. Because both Popeye wells have flowed at rates above their 60 MMcfd design, Shell expects their production soon to reach the 120 MMcfd

Feb. 5, 1996

3 min read

Shell Offshore Inc. and partners are producing gas at a deepwater field using the Gulf of Mexico's first subsea, diverless, cluster production system.

The group began production Jan. 11 from two subsea Popeye field wells in 2,000 ft of water on Green Canyon Block 116, about 140 miles south of New Orleans. Flow by the end of the month had climbed to 90 MMcfd.

Because both Popeye wells have flowed at rates above their 60 MMcfd design, Shell expects their production soon to reach the 120 MMcfd design capacity of Popeye's novel subsea system.

Popeye is the third Shell operated project to go on line in the Gulf of Mexico in more than 1,500 ft of water. The company in January 1994 started production through a subsea system in Tahoe field in 1,500 ft of water on Viosca Knoll Block 783. In April 1994, it began producing oil and gas with a tension leg platform system in 2,860 ft of water in Auger field on Garden Banks Block 426.

Encouraging results

Rich Pattarozzi, general manager of Shell Offshore's deepwater division, said Popeye's installation and initial performance have been encouraging to the company.

"Our subsea experiences at Tahoe and Popeye have validated many of the technical advances required for installation of our Mensa project in 5,400 ft of water," Pattarozzi said.

When Shell and partners CNG Producing Co., Mobil Exploration & Producing Co., and BP Exploration Inc. began installing Popeye Phase I subsea components last April, they reported system components would chalk up a series of technological achievements (OGJ, Apr. 10, 1995, p. 26). Many of those achievements could be repeated or surpassed at Mensa.

For example, Popeye gas is moving through a 6 in., 24 mile subsea flow line tied back to Shell's Cougar platform in about 350 ft of water on South Timbalier Block 300. It is the gulf's longest tieback from a subsea well. Mensa's production is to flow through a subsea 12 in. line tied back to a platform on West Delta Block 143, 68 miles away (OGJ, June 5, 1995, p. 30).

Shell aims to install Mensa subsea components starting this year on a four tract unit in the gulf's Mississippi Canyon federal planning area. Mensa production is to start in 1997.

Partners estimate Phase I cumulative recovery from Popeye's two subsea wells at 200 bcf of gas and 7 million bbl of condensate. With full development, Popeye could produce as much as 320 bcf and 10 million bbl.

The decision to drill more development wells at Popeye will depend on performances of Phase I wells.

Shell last year said Popeye Phase I components cost about $105 million.

Operator Shell and CNG Producing each hold 37.5% interests in Popeye and Mobil and BP Exploration 12.5% each.