Shell Offshore Inc., a subsidiary of Shell plc, has announced the Final Investment Decision (FID) for Sparta, a deep-water development in the US Gulf of Mexico.

Sparta is expected to reach a peak production of approximately 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) and currently has an estimated recoverable resource volume of 244 million boe.

The project is scheduled to begin production in 2028, making it Shell’s 15th deep-water host in the Gulf of Mexico. Sparta is owned by Shell Offshore Inc. (51% operator) and Equinor Gulf of Mexico LLC (49%).

According to the company press release, one of the key features of Sparta is its cost-efficient development approach, which is achieved through standardized and simplified host designs. This approach was first utilized at the Vito development and later replicated at the Whale development. Sparta is an enhanced replication of Vito and Whale, with about 95% of Whale’s hull and 85% of Whale’s topsides being replicated.

“Shell’s latest deep-water development demonstrates the power of replication, driving greater value from our advantaged positions,” said Zoë Yujnovich, Shell’s Integrated Gas & Upstream Director.

“This investment decision is in line with Shell’s commitment to pursuing the most energy-efficient and competitive projects while providing safe and secure energy supplies for both the present and the future,” Yujnovich added.

With over 40 years of deep-water expertise, Sparta also marks Shell’s first development in the Gulf of Mexico to produce from reservoirs with pressures up to 20,000 pounds per square inch.

Besides, the Sparta development will be the first of Shell’s replicable projects to feature all-electric topside compression equipment. This will significantly reduce greenhouse gas intensity and emissions from Shell’s own operations.