BP has started oil production from Na Kika Phase 3 in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The first Na Kika Phase 3 well began production on Feb. 19, with a second well expected to start up in 2Q. The project includes the drilling and completion of the two new wells, the addition of subsea infrastructure to tieback to the Na Kika platform, and new equipment to allow increased production from an existing well at the site.

The Na Kika semisubmersible platform is located about 140 mi (225 km) southeast of New Orleans in more than 1,829 m of water. It will use available production capacity at the Na Kika hub.

BP is the operator of Na Kika and holds a 50% working interest, with Shell holding the remaining 50%. Production from Na Kika first began in 2003. Na Kika Phase 3 is the company’s third new major upstream project to begin production so far in 2014, following the earlier start-ups of the Chirag Oil project in Azerbaijan and the Mars B project in the Gulf of Mexico.