Chevron, TotalEnergies begin oil production at Ballymore project in deepwater Gulf

(WO) — Chevron Corp. has started oil and natural gas production from the Ballymore field, a deepwater subsea tieback in the Gulf of Mexico/Gulf of America.

The project, located about 160 miles southeast of New Orleans in the Mississippi Canyon area, is Chevron’s first development in the Norphlet trend. Ballymore connects three production wells to the existing Blind Faith facility, eliminating the need for a new offshore platform.

Chevron said Ballymore is expected to produce up to 75,000 gross barrels of oil per day, contributing to the company’s goal of reaching 300,000 net barrels of oil equivalent per day from the Gulf by 2026.

“Ballymore is an example of how we are leveraging technology and driving efficiencies to help produce affordable, reliable energy from the deepwater Gulf of America, one of the lowest carbon intensity oil and gas producing basins in the world,” said Brent Gros, vice president, Chevron Gulf of America. “Ballymore, which was completed on time and on budget, brings additional production online without building a new standalone offshore platform. This reduces our development costs and is expected to drive higher returns for shareholders.”

The Ballymore field holds an estimated 150 million barrels of oil equivalent in potentially recoverable resources over its project life. The development sits in about 6,600 feet (2,000 meters) of water.

Chevron, through its subsidiary Chevron U.S.A. Inc., operates the project with a 60% working interest. TotalEnergies E&P USA, Inc. holds the remaining 40%.

Ballymore is the latest in a series of Gulf of Mexico/Gulf of America startups for Chevron. Since mid-2024, the company has brought online its Anchor and Whale projects, while ramping up water injection operations at its Tahiti and Jack/St. Malo fields to enhance production.