Chevron to use GE riser tensioner at Big Foot

July 7, 2011
Chevron has awarded GE Oil & Gas Drilling & Production a $45-million contract to supply the TLP marine riser tensioner systems for the Big Foot development in the Gulf of Mexico.

Offshore staff

HOUSTON – Chevron has awarded GE Oil & Gas Drilling & Production a $45-million contract to supply the TLP marine riser tensioner systems for the Big Foot development in the Gulf of Mexico.

GE is making design modifications to develop “push-up” style marine riser tensioner equipment to enable the Big Foot TLP to deal with the challenging wave and current movement conditions of deepwater applications. Big Foot will be the largest TLP built when deployed. The GE-Chevron Big Foot unit will be the first to operate in depths of 5,200 ft (1,585 m), the deepest water for a TLP to date.

The Big Foot TLP will be Chevron’s sixth operated deepwater GoM facility and will be approximately 225 mi (362 km) south of New Orleans. The TLP will include an on-board drilling rig and will have a production capacity of 75,000 b/d oil and 25 MMcf/d of natural gas. Installation of the TLP is scheduled to begin in November 2012 and first oil is expected in 2014.

07/07/2011