Project Profile
Location: Gulf of Mexico, USA
Water depth: 945 metres (Gunnison), 960 metres (Durang)
Discovery: 2000 (Gunnison), 2001 (Durang)
Capacity: 30,000 bopd, 180 MMcf/d of gas
Prodcution start-up: 2003 (Gunnison)
Gunnison
Located in deepwater Gulf of Mexico, the Gunnison oil and gas field spans Garden Banks Blocks 667, 668 and 669. Designed as a production hub for area fields, the Gunnison field development also produces the Durango and Deep Dawson discoveries. Anadarko serves as the operator of Gunnison with 50% interest, and partners on the project include Nexen with 30% and Helix Energy Solutions with 20%. In May 2000, a discovery well on the Gunnison prospect in Garden Banks 668 intersected 84 metres of net hydrocarbon pay in three zones. The Noble Amos semisub drilled the discovery well to a total depth of 5,182 metres in 960 metres of water. Appraisal drilling in 2001 significantly extended the field to the west. Drilled updip 2.4 kilometres from the discovery well, the Garden Banks 668 #2 appraisal well also confirmed the discovery. Suspended as a potential future producer, the appraisal well solidified the reserve estimate of more than 120 MMboe for the Gunnison area. The third appraisal well, the Garden Banks 668 #3 well was drilled 4 kilometres west of the discovery well to further evaluate Gunnison and test the Durango prospect. The appraisal well hit more than 61 metres of net oil and gas pay. Drilled to confirm the commerciality of the field, the Garden Banks 668 #4 well was drilled by the Transocean Richardson soon afterward.
Durango
Situated in 960 metres of water, the Durango field is located on Garden Banks Block 667, directly adjacent to the Gunnison field. Discovered in June 2001 by the Transocean Richardson semisubmersible, the exploratory well encountered almost 200 feet (61 meters) of net gas pay, increasing the estimated reserves for the Gunnison sub-basin. Durango is also operated by Anadarko, which holds 50% interest. Project partners are the same: Nexen with 30% and Helix ERT with the remaining 20%.
Production
Starting production in December 2003, the Global Producer VII ramped up to a peak production rate of 30,000 bopd and 180 MMcf/d (5 MMcm/d) of natural gas from the Gunnison and Durango fields. With a production capacity of 40,000 bopd and 200 MMcf/d (5.7 MMcm/d), the Gunnison development was designed with an extra 25% capacity, leaving room for future growth and the potential to process third-party petroleum.
Operators:
Anadarko: 50% interest
Nexen: 30% interest
Helix Energy Solution: 20% interest