Zoom in on Kaskida: BP’s Next Major Deepwater Project in the Gulf of America BP’s Kaskida project represents a significant advancement in deepwater oil development within the Gulf of America. Located in the Keathley Canyon area approximately 250 miles southwest of New Orleans, the project centers on Block 292, where BP holds 100% ownership and operatorship. Discovered in 2006, the Kaskida oil field is one of the largest Paleogene trend discoveries in the region, with an estimated 3 billion barrels of oil in place. The development plan involves deploying a semisubmersible floating production platform designed to withstand pressures up to 20,000 pounds per square inch (20K psi). Once operational, the facility is expected to produce around 80,000 barrels of crude oil per day. BP took the final investment decision (FID) for the project in July 2024, marking a key milestone toward execution. First oil is anticipated in 2029, positioning Kaskida as BP’s sixth hub in the Gulf of Mexico. The project’s location in Keathley Canyon Block 292 places it within a geologically prolific zone known for Lower Tertiary formations. Water depths in the area reach approximately 6,000 feet (1,829 meters), necessitating advanced drilling and production technologies. BP’s approach leverages lessons from prior developments, with the Kaskida platform incorporating more than 85% of the design from the nearby Tiber field—another major BP-operated asset in the same region. Beyond immediate production goals, the Kaskida project supports BP’s broader strategy to unlock value from the Kaskida and Tiber catchment areas, which together host an estimated 10 billion barrels of discovered resources. This integrated view underscores the long-term potential of the Keathley Canyon corridor as a cornerstone of BP’s deepwater portfolio in the Gulf of America. As BP advances toward sanctioning and construction, the Kaskida project exemplifies the technical and operational rigor required to develop ultra-deepwater reserves safely and efficiently. Its progress will be closely watched as a benchmark for future high-pressure, high-temperature developments in one of the world’s most challenging offshore environments.
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