BP has launched the initial start-up of the Galapagos development in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico (GoM), one of a series of new major upstream projects that the company expects to bring into production this year.

The Galapagos development includes three deepwater fields and increases the capability of a key offshore production hub for BP. The fields - Isabela, Santiago and Santa Cruz - are being produced using subsea equipment on the floor of the Gulf. A new production flowline loop has been added to carry output to the nearby Na Kika host facility, a BP-operated platform roughly 140 miles southeast of New Orleans in 6,500 ft (1,981 m) of water.

The Galapagos development required the installation of new subsea infrastructure, production risers, topsides as well as other modifications.

BP’s overall interest in the three-block area that includes the fields comprising the Galapagos project is about 56%. Noble Energy Inc., Red Willow Offshore LLC, and Houston Energy L.P. are co-owners. BP is the operator of the Isabela field, while Noble Energy operates the Santiago and Santa Cruz fields.

BP expects to invest at least $4.0 billion a year on oil and gas development in the GoM over the next 10 years, said the company.

“The start-up of this project in the GoM is one of six high-margin projects we expect to come onstream this year,” said Bob Dudley, BP’s chief executive.