The Big Bend oil development in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GoM) began production on Oct. 26, Noble Energy Inc. said Oct. 28.

The single-well field is ramping as expected and will likely produce about 20Mboe/d maximum over the next few weeks, the company said. About 90% of the volumes being produced are oil.

The Dantzler development is being accelerated, and first production from it is now expected by early November, the company added. Big Bend and Dantzler, located in Mississippi Canyon 698 and 782, respectively, are subsea tiebacks to the third-party Thunder Hawk production facility. Combined, the fields are thought to contribute 20Mboe/d maximum net, to Noble’s production rate.

Gary W. Willingham, executive vice president of operations, said Big Bend is the first of three major projects planned to come online in the GoM over the next nine months.

Noble operates Big Bend with a 54% working interest. W & T Energy VI LLC has 20% percent, Red Willow Offshore LLC has 15.4% and Houston Energy Deepwater Ventures V LLC has 10.6%.

Noble operates Dantzler with a 45% working interest. Partners include Ridgewood Energy Corp., including ILX Holdings II LLC, with 35% and W & T Energy VI LLC with 20%.

Noble also said that the Humpback well offshore the Falkland Islands reached total depth and is being plugged and abandoned. The rig which drilled the Humpback well will be released to another operator before returning to Noble to spud the Rhea prospect in late 2015 or early 2016.

Total third-quarter 2015 exploration expense will be about $200 million, including the majority of net costs related to the Humpback well.

Noble Energy Inc. is based in Houston.

Offshore