BP Global - Press - BP Assessing Damage to Thunder Horse Platform in Gulf of Mexico

HOUSTON (July 11, 2005)- BP today confirmed that the Thunder Horse semi-submersible platform, located in Mississippi Canyon Block 778 in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, 150 miles southeast of New Orleans, is listing following the passing of Hurricane Dennis. Early reports confirmed that the platform is listing an estimated 20 - 30 degrees. The Thunder Horse field is in development and has not yet begun production of hydrocarbons.

The situation was discovered at approximately 8:30 a.m. Monday morning by a vessel in the area. The cause is unknown. The Thunder Horse platform had been evacuated of all personnel on Friday in anticipation of the hurricane’s approach. At this time there has been no known release of any fuel or hazardous substances.

BP immediately activated its Incident Command structure, notified the appropriate regulatory agencies including the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) and the U.S. Coast Guard, and conducted over flights to further assess the extent of the damage.

At this time BP is mobilizing a number of response vessels to the Thunder Horse location and working with the Coast Guard to create a response plan. The first priority will be to safely board the vessel for a further assessment of its stability and to begin investigating potential causes of the issue.

BP and the Coast Guard are collaborating to establish a Unified Command in Morgan City, Louisiana.

More information, including a photograph of the Thunder Horse platform, is available using the link below.

Thunder Horse Fact Sheet

Moored Semi-submersible PDQ (Modularized Production, Integrated Drilling and Quarters); ABS Classed and Certified “Floating Offshore Installation”; All Subsea Wells

Location		Mississippi Canyon 778/822, 150 miles SE of New Orleans

Operator		BP (75%)
Partner		ExxonMobil (25%)
Water Depth		6050 ft (@ PDQ location)
Design Life		25 years

Processing Capability
Annualized average throughput - Oil		250,000 BOPD
Annualized average throughput - Gas		200 MMSCFD
Produced Water Peak		140M BWPD
Water Injection		200 to 300M BWIPD

Topsides Description
Topsides layout		3 production / utilities modules
Topside modules lift weight		21,000 short tons
Main Power Generation Capability		90 MW
Derrick		2MM lbs Maximum; Auxiliary Hoisting Capability
Quarters		229 persons
Helideck		sized for an S-61 w/S-61 parked

Hull Description
Lightship weight		75,000 metric tons

Dry Transport weight		59,500 metric tons
Hull Displacement		129,000 metric tons
Mooring		16 x 5 ¾ wire rope & chain with suction pile
Main Deck		112 x 136 m
Normal Draft		30 m
Column Dimensions		2 @ 22 x 26 m.; 2 @ 22 x 23 m by 36 m. height
Pontoon Height		11.5 m
Deck Freeboard		17.5 m
Discovery Announced		July 15, 1999
First Oil		2005

Thunder Horse Field

Discovered in 1999, the Thunder Horse Field development is designed to utilize the largest Production Drilling Quarters (PDQ) semi submersible platform in the world. It weighs more than 50,000 tons and will produce from some of the deepest wells in the Gulf. The facility is designed to process 250,000 b/d and 200 mmcf/d with first oil expected in 2005 Oil and gas is planned to be transported to existing shelf and onshore interconnections via the Mardi Gras Transportation System.

BP operates the development (75% interest), with co-venturer ExxonMobil owning the balance.
Thunder Horse consists of two adjacent fields ('north' and 'south') being developed together.
Reservoirs are Upper Miocene turbidite sandstones.
Field will be developed via semi-submersible Production / Drilling / Quarters facility, supported by a network of 25 wet-tree subsea wells.
Export is via separately funded and approved Mardi Gras export pipelines.
Project is in the execution phase currently, with the Hull having been built in Okpo, Korea, and the topsides modules built in Morgan City, Louisiana.
Pre-drilling program is underway.

BP in the Gulf of Mexico

BP began deepwater Gulf of Mexico operations in the mid 1980s. BP now produces in excess of 300,000 boe/d (barrels of oil equivalent per day) from nearly two dozen fields, including BP operated facilities at Pompano, Marlin, Horn Mountain and Na Kika. BP also operates a number of subsea developments in the Gulf.

Execution of our exploration strategy has delivered excellent results, yielding a strong portfolio of large, high quality development projects. Focused exploration will continue across our portfolio.

For the latest updates please visit our feature and news section using the link below.

BP Assessing Damage to Thunder Horse Platform in Gulf of Mexico

Thunder Horse Field

BP in the Gulf of Mexico

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