Europa Subsea Development

The leases were acquired in OCS Lease Sales 98 and 113 in May 1985 and March 1988, respectively. Shell Offshore Inc. is the operator and has a 33.67% interest in the project. BP Exploration and Production Inc. has a 33.33% interest, ENI (Agip) has a 32% interest and Conoco has a 1% interest.

Exploration and Discovery

The discovery well was drilled in 1994 on Mississippi Canyon Block 935 by BP using the Ocean America semisubmersible. Two sidetracks and one appraisal well were subsequently drilled.

The target reserves are in multiple Upper Miocene sands at depths ranging from approximately 16,000 to 19,000 feet subsea.

The average net thickness is approximately 125 feet. The reserves are primarily oil. API gravity is about 24 degrees; sulfur content is about 3% by weight. 

Development
Shell announced in March 1998 the partners’ plans to develop Europa utilizing a subsea system located on Mississippi Canyon Block 935, capable of accommodating eight wells, and tied back 20 miles to the Mars TLP on Mississippi Canyon Block 807 in 2,940 feet of water.
 
The first phase of development consisted of 4 wells. Additional wells were drilled in subsequent phases, as needed, to maintain flow rate and optimize ultimate recovery from the field. Currently, there are 6 wells drilled and completed in the field.

Shell plans to drill a new producer in 2011 and possibly two further wells over the coming 5 years.

Production
Production began January 31, 2000.