Ruby oil and gas project : BHP begins production of oil from Trinidadian project

BHP has started production of oil from the Ruby oil and gas project, which has been developed with an investment of $500 million in the territorial waters of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Australia-based natural resources company had approved the offshore hydrocarbons project in August 2019 with its share of investment being $283 million.

BHP is the operator of the Ruby oil and gas project with a 68.46% stake. Its partner is The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC), which owns the 31.54% remaining stake.

BHP management comments on the Ruby oil and gas project

Geraldine Slattery – BHP President Petroleum said: “The start-up of Ruby represents continued development of BHP’s oil and gas production facilities in Trinidad and Tobago, re-enforces the quality of the resource and its investment competitiveness.

“An Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) seismic survey acquired by BHP and the Block 3(a) partners in 2018, was utilized to illuminate and optimally position the Ruby Project development wells. This marks a significant milestone for our Petroleum business and our future in Trinidad and Tobago.”

BHP begins production of oil from the Ruby oil and gas project. Photo courtesy of BHP.

Contained in the shallow water in Block 3(a), the Ruby petroleum project is located approximately 45km off the north-eastern Trinidadian coast. It is located within the Greater Angostura Field in the Eastern Venezuela Basin.

The Ruby oil and gas project is being developed through the drilling of five production wells and a gas injector well to draw hydrocarbons from the Ruby and Delaware reservoirs. The wells will be tied back into existing operated processing facilities in the region.

Currently, drilling and completion activities are going on with the remaining wells to be brought on stream in the second and third quarter of this year. The oil and gas project in Trinidad is likely to be fully developed in Q3 2021.

Michael Stone – BHP Country Manager of Trinidad and Tobago said: “Achieving first oil safely and ahead of schedule reflects the true tenacity of the Ruby project team together with our industry and Government partners who persevered to deliver this project amid a global pandemic.

“This important milestone also highlights BHP’s continued commitment to doing business in Trinidad and Tobago as we celebrate 25 years of operations here this year.”

The fully developed Ruby oil and gas project will yield up to 16,000 gross barrels of oil per day along with 80 million gross standard cubic feet of natural gas per day.

Its estimated recoverable 2C Resources are 13.2 million barrels of oil and 274 billion cubic feet of natural gas.