Shell Begins First Production from World Record Subsea Well

Shell Exploration & Production Company reports that on June 23rd it began producing natural gas from its Coulomb development, which consists of the two deepest wells in the world in terms of water depth. The world record-breaking wells are located in Mississippi Canyon blocks 657 and 613 in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico and tied back via a 27-mile flowline to the BP-Shell Na Kika Floating Development System in Mississippi Canyon 474. The Coulomb C-2 well is currently producing about 65 million cubic feet of gas per day and continues to ramp up. Both wells, C-2 and C-3 combined, are capable of producing around 100 million cubic feet of gas per day. SEPCo has a 100% interest in the C-2 well, and Petrobras America Inc. is a one-third partner in the C-3 well.

SEPCo completed the Coulomb C-2 and C-3 wells in successive, world record water depths. "These wells represent key industry and Shell firsts," said Gaurdie Banister, Technical Director, Americas Region. "On May 2nd, the C-2 well became the world's deepest water depth completion in 7,565 feet of water. But records are made to be broken, and within 17 days, the C-3 well eclipsed the C-2 record depth by five feet, as it was set in 7,570 feet of water.

"The C-2 well is a Shell deepwater best, having been completed in only 13 days," Banister added "The ability to accomplish these firsts is the result of Shell's extensive experience in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico over the past two decades, as well as its ability to work well with key contractors and vendors to plan and implement projects effectively while reducing cycle times."