For Isral Wright, working in the Gulf of America has demonstrated how success can be carried forward from one project to the next. Following his contribution to the industry-first Anchor Project, Wright has played a key role in bringing Chevron’s latest deepwater development, Ballymore, to first oil.
“Both projects are growing Chevron’s production in the region,” said Wright, Ballymore subsea hardware and installation engineer. “Getting them online is a big step forward.”
Maximising Efficiency Through Subsea Tiebacks
Ballymore, which achieved first oil on 20 April, is a deepwater oil field developed as a subsea tieback. Connected via a subsea flowline to Chevron’s existing Blind Faith facility approximately three miles away, the project enables Chevron to expand production without the need for a new platform. This tieback approach reduces development costs and accelerates the timeline for bringing production online.
A subsea tieback connects offshore oil and gas fields to existing infrastructure, facilitating efficient resource development. Ballymore’s integration with Blind Faith is a prime example of Chevron’s strategy to do more with less, capitalising on existing assets to drive production growth.
Strengthening Domestic Supply
Bringing the Ballymore Field online marks a significant milestone for Chevron. With first oil destined for Chevron’s Pascagoula Refinery, the project strengthens the domestic supply within the Gulf Coast refining network, supporting long-term energy security.
Ballymore is expected to produce up to 75,000 gross barrels of oil per day, with Chevron holding a 60 percent operating interest.
Highlighting the importance of projects like Ballymore, Wright said, “The world population has been increasing at a steady clip for a while, and this means there’s going to be a growing need for energy. To meet that demand, we need to have a portfolio of many different options, and this is one of them.”
Continued Growth in the Gulf
Ballymore and Anchor represent just part of Chevron’s expanding Gulf of America portfolio. Production at the Whale Project, where Chevron has a non-operating interest, commenced in mid-2024. Additionally, the company initiated water injection projects at the Tahiti and Jack/St. Malo facilities to boost output.
Chevron’s deepwater strategy focuses on the exploration and development of resources near existing assets, with a target to reach 300,000 net barrels of oil-equivalent per day in the Gulf by 2026.
Low-Carbon Production
The Gulf of America hosts some of the lowest carbon intensity producing assets in Chevron’s global portfolio, reinforcing the company’s commitment to delivering energy with a lower environmental footprint.
Building on Experience
Operating safely since 2008, Blind Faith continues to provide a reliable platform for Chevron’s operations. Ballymore benefited from standardised equipment designs and repeatable engineering solutions, with lessons from the Anchor Project applied to streamline its development.
Reflecting on the achievement, Wright noted the satisfaction of seeing both projects realised after years of effort. “It’s nice to see,” he said, adding of Anchor: “It’s kind of cool to know I was a part of something that has never been done before.”
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