Following the joint Exxon Company USA and BP Exploration Hoover oil discovery in early 1997, the Diana Project Team re-initiated the concept selection process for joint development of the Hoover and Diana fields. These fields are located in 4800 feet of water 160 miles south of Galveston, Texas. Concept selection for development of the Diana field had been completed prior to the Hoover discovery and the project team was in the process of being assembled. Challenges impacting the concept selection process included water depths ranging from 4,500 - 4,900 ft., integrating an oil development at Hoover with an oil and gas development at Diana, potential hydrate and paraffin problems due to cold seafloor temperatures, lack of existing transportation infrastructure in the Western Gulf of Mexico, and potential future integration of additional developments in the Diana basin.

In April 1997, the development plan was approved which included a Deep Draft Caisson Vessel (DDCV) with drilling and processing facilities located over Hoover, and subsea development of Diana tied back to the DDCV. Facility capacities are designed for 100 KBOD and 325 MCFD. The DDCV will be 122 feet in diameter and 705 feet long and should establish a water depth record for Gulf of Mexico surface-piercing structures. New gas and oil pipelines will transport sales to existing onshore/nearshore infrastructure.

This paper outlines the physical characteristics of the Diana Project, the development options considered during the concept selection process, and project execution details and schedules.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90937©1998 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Salt Lake City, Utah