BHP Billiton: Shenzi Field Exceeding Production Expectations
September 09 2009 - 8:29PM
Dow Jones News
BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) said Thursday its Shenzi oil field in
the Gulf of Mexico was exceeding nominal capacity of 100,000
barrels per day, and is achieving sustained rates of 120,000
barrels a day.
Shenzi started production in March this year, coming on stream
three months ahead of schedule and within budget.
""Our primary goal during the early production phase of Shenzi
was to safely achieve full design rates, which we did within 50
days of start-up. We have now been able to sustain rates
significantly in excess of design capacity over the past two
months," said J. Michael Yeager, chief executive of BHP Billiton
Petroleum.
BHP is the owner-operator of Shenzi with a 44% stake. Hess Corp.
and Repsol YPF S.A. each own 28%.
-By Elisabeth Behrmann, Dow Jones Newswires;
61-2-8272-4689 elisabeth.behrmann@dowjones.com