Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Industrial - January 13, 2025
Shell Offshore Lowers Emissions in New Production
Shell Offshore Inc. (Shell), a subsidiary of Shell plc, announced that production has started at the Shell-operated Whale floating production facility in the Gulf of Mexico using energy-efficient equipment.
Whale replicates the simplified, cost-efficient host design of the Vito platform, which began production in early 2023. The Whale development is owned by Shell Offshore Inc. (60%, operator) and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (40%).
"Whale demonstrates our focus on driving more value with less emissions from our upstream business as we deliver the energy people need today," said Zoë Yujnovich, Shell's Integrated Gas and Upstream Director, in a statement. "It will make a significant contribution to our commitment to bring projects online with a total peak production of more than 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day from 2023 through 2025."
With an estimated peak production of 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), Whale features energy-efficient gas turbines and compression systems, operating with around 30% lower GHG intensity over its life cycle than Vito.
Whale currently has an estimated recoverable resource volume of 480 million boe and replicates 99% of the hull design and 80% of the topsides from Vito.
This deep-water development enhances Shell’s Gulf of Mexico portfolio, where its oil production has among the lowest GHG intensity in the world. The reference to Shell’s Gulf of Mexico production being among the lowest GHG intensity in the world is a comparison among other IOGP oil- and gas-producing members.
Discovered in 2017, the Whale field will feature a semi-submersible production host in more than 8,600 feet of water with a total of 15 wells to be tied back to the host via subsea infrastructure.
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