Total begins FEED on North Platte 20,000-psi Gulf of Mexico discovery

PARIS - Total announced that front-end engineering and design (FEED) has begun for the North Platte discovery, located in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Louisiana.

The North Platte field straddles four blocks of the Garden Banks area, 275 kilometers off the coast of Louisiana in approximately 1,300 meters of water. The reservoir is of high quality, both in porosity and permeability, with thickness in places exceeding 1,200 meters.

The 20,000-psi field development plan is based on eight subsea wells and two subsea drilling bases connected via two production loops to a newbuild, lightweight floating production unit. Production will be exported through existing oil and gas subsea networks.

Total operates North Platte with a 60% working interest, alongside Equinor (40%). Oil production at plateau level is expected to average 75,000 bpd. Output will include associated gas. Total also holds interests in high-potential exploration acreage in the Greater North Platte Area, and the FPU design provides for a possible future tie-in.

“The FID for Anchor and the decision to launch FEED for North Platte are tangible examples of our strategy to increase our footprint in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The Anchor project benefits from reserves with upsides, allowing for a stand-alone development at a competitive cost. The North Platte project, meanwhile, marks Total’s return to the region as an operator. We’re aiming for a final investment decision in 2021,” stated Arnaud Breuillac, president, Exploration & Production at Total. “These two high-pressure, 20 kpsi projects will help to unlock the potential of the Central Area of the Gulf of Mexico, where Total has a strong presence.”