BP’s Argos platform arrives in US

Argos, the centrepiece of BP’s $9bn Mad Dog 2 project, has arrived in the US after completing its 16,000-mile journey from South Korea to the Kiewit Offshore Services fabrication yard in Ingleside, Texas, US.

The arrival of the new semi-submersible floating production unit is a major milestone towards the completion of Mad Dog 2. Argos will be the company’s fifth operated platform in the Gulf of Mexico – and the first new platform since Thunder Horse began production in 2008. It will increase production capacity in the region by 25%.

BP reports that Argos underpins a key pillar of its strategy to have a ‘resilient and focused hydrocarbons business that will be a key source of earnings to drive [its] transformation into an integrated energy company.’   

Construction of the 60,000-tonne platform began in March 2018 at Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea. It was transported to Texas onboard the Boskalis BOKA Vanguard heavy transport vessel.

Argos will be installed in 4,500 ft of water, about six miles from the original Mad Dog spar. At peak, the facility will produce up to 140,000 boe/d through a subsea production system from 14 production wells. It will be connected to and export oil and gas through nearby existing pipeline infrastructure. Reserves recovery will be boosted by injecting 140,000 b/d of processed seawater into the reservoir.

Start-up of Mad Dog 2 is projected for 2Q2022.

Argos semi-submersible floating production unit
Photo: BP