EXPLORATION • DRILLING • FIELD SERVICES
HIGH-PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT
An industry-fi rst deepwater technology that’s able to operate at up to 20,000psi has successfully been deployed
Chevron is applying new high-pressure technology at its US Gulf of Mexico operation T
he US energy giant Chevron has begun oil and natural gas production from the Anchor project in the deepwater US
Gulf of Mexico. Anchor production marks the successful delivery of high- pressure technology that is rated to safely operate at up to 20,000psi, with reservoir depths reaching 34,000ft below sea level. “The Anchor project represents a
breakthrough for the energy industry,” comments Nigel Hearne, executive vice president, Chevron Oil, Products & Gas. Hearne adds: “Application of this industry-fi rst deepwater technology allows us to unlock previously diff icult-to-access resources and will enable similar deepwater high-pressure developments for the industry.”
FLOATING THE IDEA The Anchor semi-submersible fl oating production unit (FPU) has a design capacity of 75,000 gross barrels of oil per day and 28 million gross ft3 of natural gas per day. The Anchor
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development will consist of seven subsea wells tied into the Anchor FPU, located in the Green Canyon area, approximately 140 miles (225km) off the coast of Louisiana, in water depths of approximately 5,000ft (1,524m). Total potentially recoverable resources from the Anchor fi eld are estimated to be up to 440 million barrels of oil equivalent. “This Anchor milestone demonstrates
Chevron’s ability to safely deliver projects within budget in the Gulf of Mexico,” says Bruce Niemeyer, president, Chevron Americas Exploration & Production. “The Anchor project provides aff ordable, reliable, lower carbon intensity oil and natural gas to help meet energy demand, while boosting economic activity for Gulf Coast communities.”
ENORMOUS POTENTIAL According to industry analysts, recent developments in ultra-high-pressure drilling technology – such as the one Chevron is using at its new Gulf of Mexico project – could unlock more
than fi ve billion barrels of known but previously inaccessible oil deposits globally, including more than two billion barrels in the US Gulf of Mexico alone. These fi gures suggest there is huge potential for future deployments of this novel drilling technology.
LOWER CARBON INTENSITY The Anchor FPU is Chevron’s sixth operated facility currently producing in the US Gulf of Mexico, one of the lowest carbon intensity oil and gas basins in the world. Chevron’s operated and non-operated facilities in the Gulf of Mexico are expected to produce a combined 300,000 net barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2026. To reduce carbon emissions, the
Anchor FPU was designed as an all-electric facility with electric motors and electronic controls. Additionally, the FPU utilises waste heat and vapour recovery units as well as existing pipeline infrastructure to transport oil and natural gas directly to US Gulf Coast markets.
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