Oil production starts at Lucius field in deepwater gulf

Partners in the Lucius oil project in the Keathley Canyon area of the deepwater Gulf of Mexico have reported first production.

The field lies in Keathley Canyon Blocks 874, 875, 918, and 919, said Japan’s Inpex Corp., which is involved through subsidiary Teikoku Oil (North America) Co. Ltd.

Lucius lies 240 miles south of Louisiana’s coast in about 7,100 ft of water.

Italy’s Eni SPA said six subsea wells are tied back to a moored production handling spar connected to shore via dedicated oil and gas pipelines. Anadarko Petroleum Corp., the operator, said the oil line is 18-in. and the gas line is 20-in.

The spar has a design capacity of 80,000 b/d and 450 MMscfd. Anadarko said the hull weighs 23,000 tons.

Lucius was discovered in 2009. Anadarko has 23.828% (OGJ Online, Aug. 19, 2011). Anadarko’s partners include Freeport McMoRan 25.123%, ExxonMobil Corp. 23.295%, Petroleo Brasileiro SA 11.5%, Eni 8.5%, and Inpex 7.753%.

Eni noted that it has a 30% working interest in the nearby Hadrian South gas field operated by ExxonMobil. Eni said production from the subsea development tied back to the Lucius spar is expected to start up early this year.