BHP picks Doris for engineering services on Trion project offshore Mexico

Australia’s BHP has contracted engineering specialist Doris Group for the execution of engineer services for the SURF and export pipeline scopes of work of the Trion project located in the Mexican sector of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Trion field encompasses an area of 1,285 sq km and is located in the Perdido belt at a water depth of approximately 2570 meters. BHP is the operator holding a 60 percent interest in the development and Pemex is the non-operating partner with a 40 percent interest.

Christophe Debouvry, CEO of Doris Group, said: “This project is a strategic win for Doris Group. It is the recognition of our strong experience in deepwater developments, it complements our portfolio in Mexico, and it strengthens our relationship with BHP.”

BHP drilled the first appraisal well on Trion in late 2018, which resulted in an oil discovery announced in January 2019. It was the first well drilled by an international operator in the Mexican deepwater area. BHP used the Transocean-owned Deepwater Invictus drillship for the operation.

In February 2019, BHP set aside $256 million for another offshore well on the Trion field. BHP said it would drill another appraisal well to further delineate the scale and characterization of the Trion asset.

The primary objectives of the new appraisal well, labeled 3DEL, was to confirm the volume and composition of hydrocarbons near the crest of the Trion structure and study the viability of development of the Trion field.

According to information provided by BHP in November 2019, the 3DEL appraisal well provided greater confidence around the scale, and quality, of the resource.

BHP also said in November it was targeting a project breakeven of below $50 per barrel of oil equivalent. Project sanction is possible from the 2022 financial year, with earliest first oil from 2025.

The company plans to conduct additional exploration drilling in the Trion block in FY 2021.