Thunder Horse
Online
Operator:
BP
Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/ (All rights belong to the original owner.)
Type:
Oil & Gas
Design:
Semi-Submersible
Installed:
2005
Facility:
Production
Water Depth:
1860
meters
Country:
USA - New Orleans District
Block:
MISSISSIPPI CANYON 60. Block 778
Intro
Thunder Horse is a deepwater semi-submersible production and drilling platform located in Mississippi Canyon Blocks 778 and 822. First production began in 2008. It is one of the largest offshore production facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, acting as a major regional hub with extensive pipeline export infrastructure.
Field
The Thunder Horse Field is located in the Mississippi Canyon area and produces from Miocene and Lower Tertiary sandstone reservoirs. It is one of the largest oil discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico, developed as a major hub with multiple subsea and in-field wells.
Facilities
The Thunder Horse platform is installed in approximately 6,000 ft (1,829 m) of water and combines production and drilling capabilities. It processes production from numerous subsea wells tied back via flowlines and risers, as well as in-field wells. Topsides facilities include multi-stage separation, oil stabilization, and high-capacity gas compression systems. Oil is exported via the Mardi Gras Transportation System, a network of pipelines delivering crude to onshore Louisiana. Gas is exported via the Discovery gas pipeline system into the Gulf Coast transmission grid. Produced water is treated prior to discharge. The facility includes water injection systems for reservoir pressure maintenance. Power generation is provided by gas turbines. Advanced control systems manage subsea operations. The semi-submersible design provides stability in ultra-deepwater conditions.
Similar Platforms
Image Source: MB50's "Liquid Mud" Rant, "BP Starts Galapagos Development in U.S. GoM". (All rights belong to the original owner.)
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