Chevron has informed it does not expect any production from its giant Big Foot tension leg platform (TLP), in the Gulf of Mexico, until 2018.

The production was previously planned to start in the late 2015.

Chevron Corporation – EVP, Upstream, Jay Johnson, said during the company’s second quarter conference call: “At this point we are not expecting any Big Foot production in 2016 or 2017, which is a reduction from our original plan of 10,000 net barrels per day in 2016 and 22,000 in 2017.”

To remind, work to install the Big Foot tension leg platform was suspended in early June when 9 of the 16 tendons lost buoyancy. There were no environmental impacts or injuries as a result and Chevron says it is still investigating the root cause of the incident. The tension leg platform was undamaged and is being moved to a safe harbor location.

Furthermore, the site has been secured, including recovery of the 7 remaining tendons.

The company says that site surveys and equipment inspections are in progress to determine whether the installed piles and recovered tendons can be reused and what equipment will require replacement in order to complete the project.

The Big Foot field is located approximately 360 kilometers south of New Orleans, Louisiana, in water depths of 1,600 meters. Chevron sanctioned the $4 billion project in December 2010. The Big Foot field is estimated to contain total recoverable resources in excess of 200 million oil-equivalent barrels.

Source: www.offshoreenergytoday.com

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