After a several year lag in deepwater Gulf of Mexico development, a new generation of projects is moving toward first production. Shell’s Vito and Whale, BP’s Argos, Chevron’s Anchor, and Murphy’s King’s Quay are similar in many ways including the following:
- Floating production units
- Lighter, smaller semisubmersible designs
- Excellent structural integrity and storm performance characteristics
- Lower project costs, shorter cycle times
- 4000 to 8600′ water depth
- Subsea wells, small surface footprint
- High production rates anticipated: 100,000 – 150,000 BOE/D
- Standardized equipment
- Energy efficient gas turbines
- Advanced remote monitoring, fewer onboard staff
- Simpler = safer (assuming equivalent well and production safety system integrity)
- Limited number of wells + high production rates/well + efficient power generation and processing equipment + restricted flaring + pipeline transportation = low GHG intensity production
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 
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