Anadarko commenced production at the Caesar/Tonga joint development in the Green Canyon area of the deepwater Gulf of Mexico on March 7, 2012.

The Anadarko-operated Caesar/Tonga development consists of three discoveries: Tonga, Tonga West and Caesar. The three fields were combined into one project to be developed as a subsea tie-back to the Constitution Spar, also operated by Anadarko. The fields are located about 190 miles (306 kilometers) off New Orleans, La. in roughly 4,921 feet (1,500 meters) of water.

Production from the development is expected to ramp up to approximately 45,000 boepd from the three subsea wells. A fourth well will be drilled in the first phase, and is expected to be completed in 2012.

The operator had originally slated production commencement for mid-2011 but the project suffered a set back due to a faulty production riser system that "was not fit for service," said Chuck Meloy, Anadarko Sr. Vice President, Worldwide Operations in a Jan. 31 press statement.

The Constitution Spar, which began production in 2006, has a design capacity of 70,000 bopd and 200 MMcf/d. Located on Green Canyon Block 680, the spar serves as a hub for several satellite fields in the Green Canyon area.

Tags: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation