Argos, a semisubmersible, floating production platform, will be the company’s fifth operated platform in the Gulf of Mexico and the first new platform since Thunder Horse began production in 2008. BP estimates it will increase the production capacity in the region by 25%.
On 12 April, BP announced its arrival at the Kiewit Offshore Services fabrication yard in Ingleside, Texas, after safely completing its 16,000-mile journey from South Korea. It will be the centerpiece of BP’s $9-billion Mad Dog 2 project.
Kiewit will perform the final preparatory work and inspections on the 60,000-ton platform before it continues its journey to the Green Canyon area about 200 miles south of New Orleans, where it will operate in 4,500 ft of water.
It is expected to produce 140,000 BOED from the Mad Dog oil field via a subsea production system of up to 14 production wells and eight water-injection wells. Startup is expected in the second quarter of 2022.