Ariel (MC429) - BP

Location

The Ariel oil field is located in the ultra-deepwater region of the Federal offshore, United States. Specifically, it is situated in blocks Mississippi Canyon 429 and Mississippi Canyon 430. The exact coordinates are 28.562, -88.311 (WGS 84).

Water Depth

The field is characterized by a significant water depth of 6,240 feet.

Operator and Ownership

The Ariel oil field is operated by BP Exploration & Production Inc. The ownership is shared between BP and Shell.

Discovery and Production

• The field was discovered in 1995.
• Production started, though the exact start year is not specified in the sources, it is known that the field has been in production for several years.
• Peak production was achieved in 2005.

Reserves and Production

• Remaining Reserves (as of 2019):
  • Oil: 21.6 million barrels.
  • Gas: 600.31 million cubic meters.
• Cumulative Production (as of 2019):
  • Oil: 67.9 million barrels.
  • Gas: 2319.13 million cubic meters.
• Annual Production (as of 2020 and 2022):
  • Oil: 6.43 million barrels per year (2020), 4.11 million barrels per year (2022).
  • Gas: 153.47 million cubic meters per year (2020), 102.83 million cubic meters per year (2022).

Production Status

The Ariel conventional oil field has recovered 95.44% of its total recoverable reserves. Based on economic assumptions, production is expected to continue until the field reaches its economic limit in 2028.

Additional Operations

BP has been involved in various development and exploration activities in the surrounding areas, including the submission of supplemental development operations coordination documents and exploration plans for nearby blocks such as Mississippi Canyon Block 562.

Safety and Environmental Considerations

BP adheres to strict safety and pollution prevention measures, including compliance with U.S. Coast Guard regulations and the conduct of regular safety drills and maintenance of safety equipment.