Enchilada: From Border Town to Cowtown
Authors: Smith Chris D. , Pilney D. Andy 
Published: October 2008

Since first production in 1997, Enchilada has evolved from a multi-platform development, using direct vertical access (DVA) wells, to a processing and pipeline hub where the majority of the production is from surrounding developments. Located in 600'-700' of water, in the northeast corner of the Garden Banks area, Enchilada borders the deepwater leases. Although the original project was justified as a significant stand-alone development, infrastructure on the Shelf / Deepwater edge was recognized as having strategic value. In order to capture this value, choices were made during development and subsequent to the initial development that have helped shape Enchilada today. This paper will describe the transition to a hub facility, and will highlight some of the choices that have made Enchilada unique.

Original Development - Border Town

Garden Banks 128 (Enchilada) field is located 185 miles southeast of New Orleans in the northern portion of the Garden Banks Area (Figure A-1). The Enchilada Development actually consists of smaller individual developments covering five OCS Blocks; Garden Banks 83/84 (Elmer), Garden Banks 127/128 (Chimichanga / Enchilada), and Garden Banks 172 (Salsa). Each of these developments had various partners and ownership interests.

The Elmer development was first discovered in 1990, but was determined non-commercial as a stand-alone development. However, in 1994 two sub-salt discoveries, a. GB127 (Chimichanga) by Shell Offshore, Inc. and b. GB172 (Salsa) by Amerada Hess Corporation formed the basis to move forward with what was to become a major sub-salt development. In August of 1995, a development plan was approved for a two-platform co-development with Shell as the operator. This scheme was chosen to allow for the development of Elmer using DVA wells, in addition to the sub-salt developments.

The Enchilada GB128 'A' Platform was installed in 633' of water in December 1996. It is a 4 leg, 8-pile conventional structure with 24 total slots, of which 15 are allocated for wells and 8 allocated for pipelines (1 for an emergency sump). The Salsa GB172 'B' Platform was installed in 695' of water in November 1997. It is also a 4 leg, 8-pile structure with 20 slots, of which 15 are for wells, 4 for pipelines, and 1 for an emergency sump.

Development drilling began in early 1997 on the Enchilada platform. First production commenced in the second half of 1997 from the Elmer A-2 well. Development drilling and completion activities continued on Enchilada through the third quarter, 1999. At that point, 8 wells had been drilled. Development drilling took place on the Salsa platform during the same time period. A total of 3 wells were drilled and completed and put on production from 1998 through mid- 1999. With the close of 1999, the initial development cycle of the Enchilada fields was complete.

Production was established from the four identified prospects: Elmer, Chimichanga, Enchilada, and Salsa. With the location of these fields being on the edge of the Continental Shelf and bordering the deepwater leases, the Enchilada development was collectively referred to as Border Town.