Anadarko Petroleum Corp. and its partners have ramped up production from the first three wells at the Heidelberg field of the Lower Tertiary Trend in the Gulf of Mexico, the producer’s second major deepwater truss spar development in two years.

Heidelberg, estimated to hold 200-400 million boe of recoverable resources, was discovered in early 2009 in Green Canyon Block 859 (see Daily GPI, Feb. 3, 2009). A sidetrack appraisal well in 2012 confirmed an extension of up to 1,500 acres (see Daily GPI, April 20, 2012). Including the Heidelberg ramp-up, this year has been expected to be a big growth year for the deepwater, according to Wood Mackenzie Ltd. (see Daily GPI, Nov. 13, 2014).

Heidelberg’s topside installation was completed last October. The facility is 140 miles southwest of Port Fourchon, LA.

Heidelberg is the twin spar to the ExxonMobil Corp.-operated Lucius discovery, each able to produce up to 80,000 b/d of oil and 80 MMcf/d of natural gas. The spar, 110 feet in diameter and 604 feet long, is able to operate in water depths of 5,300 feet. It has a topside operating weight of 16,000 tons, with a hull weight of 23,000 tons.

In addition to the spar, the Heidelberg development is to include six production wells, two drill centers, and dual looped eight-inch diameter flowlines. Additionally, 35 miles of 20-inch diameter oil export pipeline and nine miles of 16-inch diameter gas export pipeline were installed.

Oil from Heidelberg is to be transported to Port Arthur, TX, while gas would be sent to the Larose plant in Port Fourchon.

ExxonMobil Corp. and Anadarko in 2011 agreed to team up on their big deepwater discoveries using unitization, which jointly coordinates separate discoveries (see Daily GPI, June, 22, 2011). Lucius, which ramped up last year in Keathley Canyon (KC) Block 875, was discovered in late 2009 and now includes KC 874, 918 and 919 (see Daily GPI, Jan. 28, 2010; Dec. 11, 2009).

Anadarko operates Heidelberg with 31.5% interest. Its partners include Marubeni Oil & Gas USA (12.75%), Eni SpA (12.5%), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (12.5%), Statoil ASA (12%), ExxonMobil ( 9.375%) and Cobalt International Energy Inc. (9.375%).

Anadarko holds stakes in more than two million net acres in the deepwater, with operated floating facilities that include Heidelberg, Lucius, Independence Hub, Constitution, Marco Polo, Red Hawk, Gunnison, Nansen and Boomvang. The Woodlands, TX-based producer has an average 60% working interest in 297 gross blocks, 169 net blocks.