Oil production has started at the Julia oil field in the Gulf of Mexico, ExxonMobil announced.
The first production well is now online and a second well will start production in the coming weeks, the company said.
The Julia development is located approximately 265 miles southwest of New Orleans in water depths of more than 7,000 feet.
The initial development phase uses subsea tie-backs to the Chevron-operated Jack/St. Malo production facility, reducing the need for additional infrastructure.
The development of Julia includes the use of subsea pumps that have one of the deepest applications and highest design pressures in the industry to date, ExxonMobil explained.
“Successful deepwater developments like Julia, located more than 30,000 feet below the ocean’s surface, benefit from ExxonMobil’s disciplined project execution capabilities and commitment to developing quality resources using advanced technology,” said Neil W. Duffin , president of ExxonMobil Development Company.
The Maersk Viking drillship is currently drilling a third well, which is expected to come online in early 2017. Production results will assist in the evaluation of additional wells included in the initial development phase, which has a design capacity of 34,000 barrels per day of oil.
“ This initial production will provide ExxonMobil with insight into the potential future development of the reservoir,” said Duffin.
Discovered in 2007, the Julia field comprises five leases in the ultra-deepwater Walker Ridge area of the Gulf of Mexico. ExxonMobil, the operator, and Statoil Gulf of Mexico each hold a 50 percent interest in the field.