Supermajor BP has tapped Gate Energy to provide commissioning services for the Kaskida floating production unit (FPU). Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed. According to the contractor, its scope of work includes static and dynamic commissioning, systems completion management, and interface coordination. Gate said it will support the full commissioning execution in alignment with fabricator Seatrium’s delivery schedule.
Mark Myhre, president of commissioning at GATE Energy, said the collaboration with Seatrium continues the relationship the duo has built on previous deepwater developments, such as BP’s Argos platform, which began production in the deepwater US Gulf in 2023.
The 20,000-psi Kaskida project is a greenfield deepwater development located approximately 200 miles offshore Galveston, Texas, in Keathley Canyon Block 292 in about 6,000 ft of water.
BP sanctioned the project during the summer of 2024. At that time, the company said the Kaskida field unlocks the potential future development of 10 billion barrels of discovered resources in place across the Kaskida and Tiber discovery catchment areas.
Tiber, located in Keathley Canyon Block 102, is expected to be formally sanctioned later this year. BP already signed a memorandum of understanding with Seatrium to supply an FPU similar to the one planned for Kaskida.
Kaskida’s recoverable resources discovered in the field’s initial phase of development are estimated at around 275 million BOE. Additional wells could be drilled in future phases.
The field’s initial phase will be developed using an Exmar-designed four-column production semisubmersible with a nameplate capacity of 80,000 BOPD hosting production from six subsea wells. Seatrium was brought on board as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor in December 2024.
BP holds 100% working interest in Kaskida but has made it clear that they are open to selling down its position. Company CEO Murray Auchincloss told investors in August that the operator was “in conversations with counterparts” on Kaskida, but was also quick to confirm that it had to be an attractive deal. Auchincloss said the company would be willing to part with up to 50% of the project.
First oil from Kaskida is expected in 2029.