Shell Exploration & Production Co. (SEPCo) announced Tuesday that it is developing a subsea production system in the Gulf of Mexico expected to produce in excess of 30 Bcf of natural gas over the course of its life. SEPCo said that Project Einset’s peak production rates may reach up to 60 MMcf/d.

Sitting in 3,500 feet of water, Einset is a single well project located approximately 170 miles southeast of New Orleans in Viosca Knoll Block 872, SEPCo said. The project is expected to tie in with Shell’s SE Tahoe subsea manifold in Viosca Knoll 784, which transports gas 12 miles to the company’s Bud Lite platform.

“The Einset project is a subsea tieback to the SE Tahoe field, a project which was brought on production within nine months of project approval,” said Steve Sears, SEPCo’s manager of subsea development. “We are planning a similar accelerated development schedule for Einset, with first production anticipated to begin in February 2002. Successfully fast tracking such projects has become a part of our strategic cost leadership strategy.”

SEPCo reported that Einset will develop resources from Viosca Knoll Blocks 872 and 873, which were acquired by Shell in Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lease Sale 169 in March 1998. Shell is the operator of Einset with a 50% stake and Dominion Exploration & Production Inc. holds the remaining 50% interest. This will be the 27th Gulf of Mexico deepwater field in which SEPCo has an interest.

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