Shell Oil has made a final investment decision for its Mars B deep water development, located approximately 130-miles south of New Orleans, Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico.
The development will include a second tension-leg platform, named Olympus, to enhance recovery from the prolific Mars field.
The new platform will also provide process infrastructure for two of Shell’s recent deep water discoveries, West Boreas and South Deimos, and can potentially serve the nearby rich exploration portfolio in the Gulf of Mexico.
The tension-leg platform is a proven concept, which Shell first executed in the early 90s for its Auger hub, and the company then followed with deep water, tension-leg platforms for its Mars (A), Ram-Powell, Ursa and Brutus developments.
First production from the Mars B Olympus platform is expected in 2015, and the facility will be designed to process approximately 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Shell will operate the Mars B Olympus tension-leg platform and currently holds a 71.5% working interest in the development and BP holds the remaining working interest.
In the Gulf of Mexico, the Mars B development will draw production from eight Mississippi Canyon blocks.