BP has started up its US Gulf deepwater Na Kika Phase 3 oil project, the company said Monday.
The first Na Kika well began producing oil February 19, with another expected to start in the second quarter.
The full Na Kika Phase 3 project has a gross capacity of 40,000 b/d of oil equivalent, said BP spokesman Brett Clanton in an email response to questions. He noted that the total production capacity of Na Kika is 130,000 boe/d.
Na Kika exports go through Shell's Delta sweet crude pipeline system.
The project also includes new subsea infrastructure to tie back to the Na Kika platform and new equipment to allow increased production from an existing well at the site. It will use available production capacity at the Na Kika hub.
The Na Kika semisubmersible platform is about 140 miles southeast of New Orleans in more than 6,000 feet of water. BP, which is the operator of Na Kika, holds a 50:50 working interest with Shell.
Na Kika is one of four major BP-operated production hubs in the US Gulf, which also include Thunder Horse, Atlantis and Mad Dog.
