The British oil giant BP has begun a water injection project at its Thunder Horse platform in the US Gulf of Mexico, Offshore-Technology reported. The move comes along with the company’s strategy of continue investment in its existing deepwater Gulf of Mexico production hubs in the US. Indeed, the development is part of BP’s plan to add about 800,000boe/d from worldwide projects starting between 2015 and 2020.

Water from the wells will be injected into the reservoir to increase pressure and improve production, allowing the Thunder Horse facility to recover an additional 65m boe over time, Energy Business Review wrote.

BP is also expected to increase recovery of oil and natural gas from one of the three main reservoirs of Thunder Horse field, and this will be possible after the company spent the last three years upgrading the platform’s existing topsides and subsea equipment, as well as drilling two water-injection wells at the site.

BP’s Gulf of Mexico Business Regional President, Richard Morrison, said: “This project will help BP sustain high levels of oil production in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico for years to come. And it’s another example of BP taking advantage of targeted and cost-effective opportunities within our existing portfolio.”