BP's Kaskida Project: Next-Generation Deep-Water Development Takes Shape in the Gulf of Mexico

BP has entered into a partnership with American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to oversee critical classification and engineering services for its Kaskida floating production unit (FPU) in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. This collaboration represents a significant milestone for Kaskida, BP’s sixth-operated deepwater asset in the region and a cornerstone of the company’s long-term energy strategy in this high-margin basin. The project is positioned to become BP’s largest energy development in the United States to date, leveraging cutting-edge deepwater technology to unlock substantial hydrocarbon reserves.

ABS Secures Critical Role in BP’s Kaskida Deepwater Venture

ABS brings decades of specialized expertise to the Kaskida initiative, having built a strong track record with complex semi-submersible production platforms across the Gulf of Mexico. Under this engagement, ABS will deliver comprehensive engineering review, verification, and inspection services for the semi-submersible FPU. The classification society will also function as the certified verification agent for the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and serve as an independent third-party verifier for high-pressure, high-temperature subsea equipment.

Miguel Hernandez, senior vice president at ABS, underscored the firm’s commitment to supporting BP’s ambitious offshore operations, pointing to its extensive experience in overseeing complex deepwater systems. In parallel, ABS will coordinate with the United States Coast Guard to ensure compliance and safety throughout the design, construction, installation, and equipment deployment phases. This multi-layered oversight structure demonstrates the technical complexity and regulatory importance of the Kaskida undertaking.

Engineering Momentum: Kaskida FPU Design Advances Through 2024

The engineering architecture for Kaskida’s FPU has been distributed across specialized firms to optimize each component. Audubon Engineering is leading the topside design efforts, while Exmar Offshore is responsible for the hull structure, with both contracts formalized in August 2024. This parallel engineering approach accelerates project development and leverages best-in-class expertise for distinct technical domains.

BP anticipates the Kaskida project will commence production by 2029, with the FPU initially capable of producing 80,000 barrels of crude oil per day from six wells during the first production phase. The asset is located approximately 250 miles southwest of New Orleans in the Keathley Canyon area, a geographically advantageous position within BP’s broader Gulf portfolio. The project is engineered to recover approximately 275 million barrels of oil equivalent in extractable resources, forming a crucial component of BP’s larger strategy to develop 10 billion barrels of discovered resources across the Kaskida and Tiber catchment zones.

Breaking Ground: Kaskida Brings Record-High Pressure Technology to Gulf of Mexico

A defining technological achievement of Kaskida is its deployment of subsea well equipment rated for pressures reaching 20,000 pounds per square inch—a first for Gulf of Mexico deepwater operations. This cutting-edge pressure rating capability is essential for accessing deepwater reservoirs positioned at 34,000 feet below sea level, depths and conditions that demand extraordinary engineering precision. The integration of such high-specification equipment underscores BP’s technological leadership and positions Kaskida at the forefront of offshore oil and gas innovation.

BP’s Kaskida: Redefining Deep-Water Potential

The convergence of ABS’s regulatory and technical expertise, the engineering prowess of specialized firms, and BP’s operational execution creates a compelling picture of project success. Kaskida represents not merely another deepwater venture, but rather a transformative asset that consolidates BP’s strategic priorities in the Gulf—combining resource scale, technological sophistication, and operational excellence. As the project progresses toward 2029, Kaskida will likely serve as a benchmark for next-generation deepwater development in one of the world’s most prolific offshore regions.