Hummer production set to start in late 3Q

First production from the Castex Energy-operated Hummer project in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico is expected in late third quarter of 2017. 

The Hummer gas/oil field extends over Main Pass Blocks 270, 273 and 274, in the Gulf of Mexico, offshore Louisiana, U.S.A.

Petsec Energy, a partner in the project, informed on Thursday that the first production projection for late third quarter 2017 follows a turnkey contract, which was awarded in January 2017. Last December, Petsec expected the production to start in mid-2017.

The January contract was for the design, engineering, modification, and fabrication of production facilities, and installation of the platform deck onto the already installed jacket for the Hummer Main Pass Block 270 “B” production platform and for the planning, installation and hook-up of the pipelines connecting the platform to gas and oil sales pipelines.

According to the company, the platform deck modifications and construction are progressing “satisfactorily” at an onshore facility near Morgan City, Louisiana. The initial design capacity of the facilities will be 50 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMcfpd) plus 1000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) to accommodate the discovery well, Main Pass 270 # 3 BP 1.

The facility design allows for production capacity to be expanded to accommodate increased production from additional wells drilled from the “B” platform and proposed proximal well head platforms. A four pile deck has been acquired and is currently being modified to accommodate the extent of the designed facilities and future expansion.

Design of the production facilities has been completed and purchase orders for long lead time equipment have been executed. Planning and preparations for permitting the pipelines connecting the platform to nearby existing oil and gas sales lines are also underway.

The Hummer Project discovery well, Main Pass 270 #3 BP 1, was drilled, logged and temporarily suspended during mid-late 2015. A platform jacket was installed over the well, and the well was completed and tested in late 2016.

The well was tested over a 48-hour period and the test rates recorded over the last three hours averaged 19.88 MMcfpd and 396 bopd on a 16/64th inch choke with a flowing well head pressure of 9753 psi.

The rates continued to increase over the final flow period. The well has been suspended pending installation of the deck, production facilities and pipelines.