Julia (WR627) - Exxon Mobil

Location and Ownership

The Julia oil field is located in the ultra-deepwater Walker Ridge area of the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 265 miles (426 km) southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana. The field is situated in water depths of more than 7,000 feet (2,134 meters).

The field is owned and operated by a joint venture between Exxon Mobil and Equinor (formerly Statoil), with each partner holding a 50% interest.

Discovery and Reserves

The Julia field was discovered in 2007 by the Statoil-Exxon Mobil joint venture. At the time of its discovery, it was considered one of the largest discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico. The discovery well was drilled to a depth of 9,500 meters (31,167 feet), and subsequent appraisal drillings indicated six billion barrels of oil resources recoverable at depths up to 30,000 feet beneath the seabed.

Development and Production

The first phase of the Julia field's development was sanctioned in May 2013 with a capital investment of $4 billion. This phase involved the drilling of six subsea wells tied back to the Chevron-operated Jack & St. Malo production facility, located about 15 miles away. The project utilized existing infrastructure to enhance capital efficiency.

Production at the Julia field began in April 2016, ahead of schedule and under budget. The initial production capacity was 34,000 barrels of oil per day. The field employs advanced technologies, including subsea pumps with one of the deepest applications and highest design pressures in the industry.

Technical and Operational Details

• Drilling and Wells: The drilling operations for the Julia field were conducted using the Maersk Viking drillship, which was built specifically for ultra-deepwater projects. The project involved setting an ExxonMobil record by running an intermediate string of casing weighing 2.3 million pounds, one of the heaviest strings ever run in the industry on a floating rig.
• Infrastructure: The field's production is tied back to the Jack & St. Malo facility through long-distance subsea tiebacks, including two 10-inch production flowlines with subsea single-phase boost pumps, and associated subsea equipment such as subsea trees, manifolds, and umbilicals.
• Contractors: Key contractors involved in the project include FMC Technologies for subsea equipment, ENGlobal for subsea controls, Technip for project management and engineering, and Nexans for umbilical solutions.

Regulatory and Legal Aspects

The development of the Julia field was subject to a legal dispute. In 2008, the partners sought to suspend production to extend the lease, which was denied due to the lack of a specific development plan. The partners appealed this decision in federal court and reached a settlement in December 2011, agreeing to retain the lease with a higher annual rental and committing to commence production by 2016.

Production and Lifespan

The Julia field is estimated to have a lifespan of up to 30-40 years. As of 2021, the field had reached peak production, and according to economic assumptions, production is expected to continue until the field reaches its economic limit in 2034. By then, it is projected that 81.09% of the total recoverable reserves will have been recovered.

Future Development

There are plans for an expansion project, Julia Phase 2, which is currently in the approval stage and expected to start in 2031.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

ExxonMobil has emphasized its commitment to safety and environmental responsibility in the development of the Julia field. The project's execution and interaction with federal regulators have enhanced the company's credibility in these areas.