(Editors at Energy Analytics Institute, 9.Jan.2025) — Shell plc subsidiary Shell Offshore Inc. announced the start of production at the Shell-operated Whale floating production facility in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM).
Whale replicates the simplified, cost-efficient host design of the Vito platform, which began production in early 2023. The Whale development is owned by Shell Offshore Inc. (WI 60%, operator) and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (WI 40%), Shell announced 9 Jan. 2025 in an official statement.
“Whale demonstrates our focus on driving more value with less emissions from our Upstream business as we deliver the energy people need today,” Shell’s Integrated Gas and Upstream Director Zoë Yujnovich said in the statement. “It will make a significant contribution to our commitment to bring projects online, with a total peak production of more than 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day from 2023 through 2025.”
With an estimated peak production of 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), Whale currently has an estimated recoverable resource volume of 480 million boe (MMboe). The estimated peak production and current estimated recoverable resources presented are 100% total gross figures, Shell said.
Whale replicates 99% of the hull design and 80% of the topsides from Vito. It also features energy-efficient gas turbines and compression systems, operating with around 30% lower greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity over its life cycle than Vito. This deep-water development enhances Shell’ GOM portfolio, where the company’s oil production has among the lowest GHG intensity in the world, the company said in the statement.
Whale production facility
The Whale production facility is located in the Alaminos Canyon Block 773 and is adjacent to the Shell-operated Silvertip field, around 10 miles (16km) from the Shell-operated Perdido platform and around 200 miles (320km) south of Houston.
Discovered in 2017, the Whale field will feature a semi-submersible production host in more than 8,600ft (2,600m) of water with a total of 15 wells to be tied back to the host via subsea infrastructure, Shell said in the statement.
Whale’s design closely replicates Vito, a 4-column semi-submersible host facility located in the greater Mars Corridor.
Leveraging the engineering and construction techniques used for Vito, as well as its supply chain, Whale was able to achieve first oil 7.5 years after discovery. This timeframe includes a one-year delay to the final investment decision (FID) following on a cash preservation strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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By Editors at Energy Analytics Institute. © 2025 Energy Analytics Institute (EAI). All Rights Reserved.
