LLOG Exploration Co. and its partners have taken steps to begin the execution of the Buckskin project, the company said on Sept. 7.

LLOG Exploration Offshore LLC has been named as the operator of the Buckskin Project based in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GoM).

This large-scale deepwater development project has been delineated by multiple prior wells and will be a six-mile subsea tieback to the Anadarko-operated Lucius spar. It will be located on Keathley Canyon blocks 785, 828, 829, 830, 871 and 872 in the GoM in about 6,800 ft of water.

Affiliates of LLOG Exploration Co. own a 31.3% working interest in the project. Repsol and Samson Offshore BSM LLC each own a 22.5% working interest, Beacon Offshore Energy Buckskin LLC owns an 18.7% working interest and Navitas Buckskin US LLC owns a 5% working interest.

The Keathley Canyon 872 was the first discovery well at Buckskin drilled by Repsol in 2009 to a depth of 29,404 ft and encountered about 400 ft of net pay in the Upper and Lower Wilcox formations. Three subsequent appraisal wells drilled in Keathley Canyon 785 and 829 encountered an average of 375 ft of high quality oil pay in the Upper Wilcox.

The Buckskin project will use equipment rated to 15,000 pounds per square inch and will utilize dual 8-in. flowlines with riser base gas lift.

“The field extends onto six lease blocks and we estimate that it contains nearly five billion barrels of oil in place. Since our inception in 1977, LLOG has successfully drilled 78 wells and managed 21 development projects in the deepwater GoM,” Scott Gutterman, LLOG’s President and CEO, said.

LLOG recently executed a new contract with the Seadrill West Neptune drilling rig to perform the initial Buckskin work, which will include drilling and completing two wells. The West Neptune will move on the Buckskin location in fourth-quarter 2017. LLOG has also ordered several long-lead items for the topsides and is positioned to achieve first production at Buckskin in second-half 2019.

Offshore