McDermott has completed the engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and commissioning (EPCIC) activities in the Gulf of Mexico to begin oil production at Shell’s Whale development.

The project, awarded in 2021 and completed last month, leveraged McDermott’s marine assets, including the North Ocean 102 vessel and the newly upgraded Amazon, to perform complex pipelay operations at depths of nearly 2,800 meters.

This included the installation of approximately 50 kilometers of pipeline and 15 kilometers of umbilicals, connecting five subsea drill centers to the new Whale floating production platform.

“The completion of the Whale project demonstrates the power of collaboration, engineering expertise, and ingenuity,” said Mahesh Swaminathan, McDermott’s Senior Vice President, Subsea and Floating Facilities.

“Our relationship with Shell is one marked by trust, a focus on operational excellence, and solution-oriented project delivery. Together, we overcame challenges and made history with the debut of the Amazon in the Gulf of Mexico, highlighting its strategic value for subsea field developments in ultra-deepwater environments,” Swaminathan added.

The Shell Whale Development, located about 200 miles southwest of Houston, features a semi-submersible production platform capable of remote operations and monitoring of almost every aspect of the facility.