Wedoany.com Report-Dec.22, Shell PLC announced on December 18, 2025, that it has taken a final investment decision to advance a waterflood project at the Kaikias field in the Gulf of Mexico, off the United States coast.

'First injection is expected in 2028 and is anticipated to extend the production lifecycle of Ursa by several years'.

The project involves injecting water into the reservoir to recover additional oil, supporting production at Shell's Ursa platform in the Mars Corridor. First water injection is scheduled for 2028 and is expected to extend the production life of the Ursa facility by several years.

Shell holds 100 percent ownership of Kaikias, which was discovered in 2014 in water depths exceeding 4,000 feet, approximately 130 miles south of the Louisiana coast. Production from the field began in 2018 via the Ursa tension leg platform, operated by Shell with a 61.35 percent interest. BP PLC owns 22.69 percent and ECP GOM III LLC holds 15.96 percent.

Shell upstream president Peter Costello commented: "Following our decision to increase our stake in Ursa earlier this year, this additional investment continues to maximize the value of the asset. It also contributes to our aim of maximizing high-margin production and longevity in a core basin to maintain liquids production."

The increased stake in Ursa resulted from Shell's $735 million acquisition of assets from ConocoPhillips, completed in the second quarter of 2025. The transaction added 15.96 percent in Ursa, 1 percent in the Europa prospect, and 11.81 percent in the Ursa Oil Pipeline Company, all operated by Shell.

Shell also highlighted recent activities in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2025, the company brought the Whale field onstream, with peak production expected to reach up to 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Shell operates Whale with a 60 percent interest, while Chevron Corp holds 40 percent. Located in Alaminos Canyon Block 773 in water depths over 8,600 feet, Whale features a semi-submersible host and is estimated to contain 480 million barrels of oil equivalent in proven and probable reserves.

Earlier in 2025, Shell started production from the Dover field, a tieback to the Appomattox hub, contributing around 20,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day at peak. Shell owns 100 percent of Dover, which lies in the Mississippi Canyon in about 7,500 feet of water, roughly 170 miles southeast of New Orleans.

Shell maintains its position as the leading oil and gas producer in the Gulf of Mexico through these developments.