Anadarko is looking to bring its deepwater Lucius “mega-project” in the Gulf of Mexico onstream later this year, the US explorer outlined in its latest project update.

Installation of the Lucius spar, which is rated to produce up to 80,000 b/d of oil, has been completed in the Keathley Canyon area of the US Gulf. Topsides were 94% complete at the end of the fourth quarter of 2013, and the project remains on track for first production in the second half of this year. The Lucius topsides are due to be towed to the field location for installation on the spar hull in the current quarter.

The operator says the project is on schedule for first oil in the second half of this year – less than three years from project sanction.

At its Lucius Spar lookalike Heidelberg development in the deepwater Green Canyon area of the GoM, with this facility also rated to produce up to 80,000 b/d of oil, fabrication of the spar hull is now more than 70% complete. Anadarko indicates that it expects to start drilling the first development well on Heidelberg during the first quarter of this year. First oil is forecast for mid-2016.