Noble signs Big Bend, Dantzler production agreement
Noble Energy Inc., Houston, has signed a production handling agreement with SBM Offshore to produce the Big Bend and Dantzler fields via the Thunder Hawk DeepDraft semisubmersible, which lies in 6,060 ft of water in the Gulf of Mexico.
Installed in July 2009, the semi was developed as a steel catenary riser friendly floater solution. The deck and hull can be integrated quayside, avoiding offshore lifting and system commissioning operations.
Production from Big Bend and Dantzler is expected to commence in late 2015 and first quarter 2016, respectively. Both will be developed through a dual pipe-in-pipe loop system, and utilize a maximum of 85% of total daily asset capacity. Noble will handle brownfield construction to upgrade the facility.
Production fees associated with produced volumes are estimated to result in revenue of $400 million to be delivered over the 10-year primary contract period.
Big Bend is 18 miles from the Thunder Hawk platform in 7,200 ft of water in Mississippi Canyon Block 698 (OGJ Online, Nov. 28, 2012). Noble operates 54% working interest in Big Bend alongside W&T Energy VI LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of W&T Offshore Inc., with 20%, Red Willow Offshore LLC with 15.4%, and Houston Energy Deepwater Ventures V LLC with 10.6%.
Dantzler is 7 miles from Thunder Hawk in 6,580 ft of water in Mississippi Canyon Block 782 (OGJ Online, Aug. 28, 2014). Noble operates Dantzler with 45% working interest. Additional interest owners are entities managed by Ridgewood Energy Corp. including ILX Holdings II LLC, a portfolio company of Riverstone Holdings LLC, with 35% and W&T Energy VI with 20%.
