The discovery well was drilled in December 1985 on Main Pass Block 252. Another well was drilled in December 1986 on Main Pass 251. Both encountered hydrocarbons.
Development Plans
McDermott began construction on a 24-slot platform in early 1988.
The platform was installed in September 1990. The seven well drilling program was carried out from January through July 1991 by Helmrich and Payne. Initial development costs for facilities, platform, pipeline and development drilling were approximately 6.1 million.
Pipelines
SOI installed an 8-inch, two-phase gas and condensate pipeline from Bud to Main Pass 289C. In the mid 90s, the 20-inch Viosca Knoll gathering line for gas was built from Bud, connecting to South Pass 55 and MP 289 for further distribution to shore. At that point, the 8-inch line became a dedicated oil line.
In 1996, an additional platform ("B" or Bud Lite) was set in Main Pass 252, designed to process and dehydrate 300 mmcfg/d, 12,000 bc/d and 8,000 bop/d. This platform was to act as host for the Tahoe II and Southeast Tahoe subsea production systems located approximately 12 miles southwest in Viosca Knoll 783 and 784, respectively. The condensate and oil was delivered to the Cobia Pipeline system at MP 289B via the 8" Bud pipeline. The gas was transported via the 20-inch Viosca Knoll gathering line.
Gas boosted on "B" is compressed by the compressor on MP 252 "A." All utilities except for power are provided by MP252 "A". Space was provided for additional oil treating equipment, if needed in the future, and for a future compressor once gas cap blowdown exceeds the capacity of the "A" compressor.
In 2002, Bud (Main Pass 252B) became a host platform for another subsea production system - Einset. Located in VK872 and 873, Einset utilizes one of the dual 6-inch flowlines installed for SE Tahoe and the Tahoe umbilical termination structure for electrical and hydraulic control.
