Whale (AC772) - Shell

Profile for Whale (AC772) - Shell Oil and Gas Asset

Project Overview

The Whale (AC772) project is an oil and gas asset currently in development, located in the Federal offshore area of the United States, specifically in the Alaminos Canyon block 772 (AC772).

Ownership and Operator

The project is operated by Shell, with Shell holding a 60% ownership stake and Chevron holding the remaining 40%.

Discovery and Development

• The Whale discovery was made in 2017.
• The Final Investment Decision (FID) was taken in 2021.
• Production is expected to start in 2024.

Location

The asset is situated in the southern Alaminos Canyon protraction area of the Western Gulf of Mexico. The exact coordinates are 26.2944, -94.2048 (WGS 84). The lease area is approximately 150 statute miles from the nearest shoreline, 343 statute miles from the onshore support base at Port Fourchon, Louisiana, and 214 statute miles from the helicopter base at Galveston, Texas.

Reserves and Production

• The project has estimated remaining recoverable hydrocarbon resources of 490 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) as of 2021, and reserves of 357 million boe as of 2023.
• The production design capacity is 36.5 million boe per year.

Platform and Infrastructure

• The Whale project utilizes a Floating Production Unit (FPU) design, which is a modified version of the Vito semisubmersible platform. This "design one, build many" approach by Shell aims to enhance capital efficiency and reduce development time.
• The platform is installed in Alaminos Canyon block 773 and is undergoing the commissioning process.
• Due to the greater water depth of approximately 8,500 feet at Whale compared to Vito's 4,000 feet, the mooring system and other equipment had to be adjusted. Additionally, a larger helideck was necessary to accommodate larger helicopters.

Processing Capabilities

The Whale FPU will provide various processing capabilities, including primary oil and gas separation, oil conditioning, and gas compression. The facility will also handle produced water treatment and other necessary operations.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

• Shell has developed an Oil Spill Response Plan (OSRP) and has contracts with Oil Spill Removal Organizations (OSROs) to ensure preparedness for potential spills.
• The project adheres to regulations set by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), including procedures for drilling, well completion, and abandonment.

Design and Construction Efficiencies

The replication strategy used for the Whale project, based on the Vito platform design, has brought significant efficiencies. This includes accurate weight budgeting, additional available deck space, and the ability to add a wing deck with minimal costs, increasing the platform's payload capacity by 1,500 tons.

Future Projects

The lessons learned and the replication strategy from the Whale project are being applied to the upcoming Sparta semisubmersible platform, which is expected to be operational by 2028.