Apr. 2013 - BP is being forced to reconsider its position on the Mad Dog Phase 2 development in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Originally, construction was set to commence by the end of the year with first oil anticipated by the end of the decade, but the oil major feels current economics make the $10 billion project difficult to justify. The company still plans to move ahead with the Phase 2 development but it remains to be seen what form of development will receive final approval. The final investment decision will likely be delayed by approximately 12 months.

Mar. 2013 - Based on a recent contract award from BP, FMC Technologies will supply subsea equipment to the Mad Dog Phase 2 development in the US Gulf of Mexico. Mad Dog Phase 2 is located in Green Canyon Block 825 in 5,100 feet of water. FMC will supply subsea trees, subsea manifolds and associated jumper equipment for the development.

May. 2012 - AMEC received a contract from BP to provide Front End Engineering Design services (FFED) for the topsides facilities for the second phase of the Mad Dog field development. The new facility, expected to be one of the largest floating production systems installed in the GOM, will produce oil and gas from the Phase 2 development area within the existing Mad Dog field.

Apr. 2012 - Technip has received a FEED contract from BP for the Mad Dog phase two project. The contract covers the design of a spar hull and mooring systems for the development, located near Green Canyon Block 825 in the Gulf of Mexico. This first award comes under the framework of the 10-year spar platform master services agreement signed in 2011. The Mad Dog Phase 2 Spar will be located near the first Mad Dog Spar delivered by Technip for BP in 2004, and installed on Green Canyon 782. Detailed engineering for the new spar is scheduled to start during the second half of 2012.

Apr. 2012 - BHP Billiton has approved the $708 million (BHP Billiton share) in pre-commitment funding for the Mad Dog Phase 2 project in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The funding will facilitate detailed engineering and the procurement of long lead time items related to the hull, topsides and subsea equipment. The proposed project, focusing on the southern portion of the field, includes the development of a second spar facility with all subsea production and injection wells. The new facility is estimated to have a design capacity of approximately 130,000 bopd that will be exported via the Mardi Gras Pipeline under existing agreements. A final investment decision is anticipated in 2013 with first production scheduled for 2018.

Sep. 2011 - BP has successfully appraised a previously untested northern section of the Mad Dog field in the Gulf of Mexico. Appraisal results confirmed a significant resource increase for the Mad Dog field complex, which includes the existing field, and appraisal drilling of the Mad Dog South field in 2008 and 2009. The operator stated that overall hydrocarbons initially in place, in Mad Dog, are estimated at 4 Bbbl of oil equivalent (pending confirmation through further appraisal drilling). Drilled by the GSF Development Driller I, the well discovered 166 feet (51 meters) of hydrocarbons in the objective Miocene hydrocarbon-bearing sands and an oil column of more than 300 feet (91 meters). BP plans to increase production from Mad Dog by installing another spar production facility with a production capacity of 120,000 to 140,000 boed. The well is located on Gulf of Mexico's Green Canyon Block 738 in approximately 4,500 feet (1,554 meters) of water. BP holds a 60.5% working interest in the field; Chevron holds a 15.6% interest; and BHP holds the remaining 23.9% interest.

May. 2011 - BP awarded Technip a 10-year master agreement to design, procure and construct hulls and mooring systems for several Spar platforms to be located in the Gulf of Mexico. The scope of work also includes the design of top tension risers for dry tree units. Within the framework of this agreement, pre-front-end engineering design activity for the Mad Dog Phase II Spar has already started. The front-end engineering design for this project is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2011. Mad Dog Phase II is an expansion of the Mad Dog field based on a successful appraisal well drilled in the southern area of the field in 2009. Mad Dog is located on Gulf of Mexico's Green Canyon Block 826 in approximately 5,100 feet (1,554 meters) of water. BP holds a 60.5% working interest in the field; Chevron holds a 15.6% interest; and BHP holds the remaining 23.9% interest.

Apr. 2010 - BP awarded Saipem America a contract for the Mad Dog drilling rig replacement project in Gulf of Mexico. Saipem's scope of work includes scope of work includes project management, engineering, transportation, removal of the existing drilling support module from the Mad Dog spar, and installation of a new drilling rig module. Offshore work is scheduled to begin at the end of 2011, early 2012. The Mad Dog field is located 190 miles (145 kilometers) offshore New Orleans in the Gulf of Mexico. BP serves as the operator, holding a 60.5% interest; BHP Petroleum holds 23.9%, and Chevron holds 15.6%.

Jul. 2009 - BHP announced that the Mad Dog South (826-5) appraisal well and sidetrack, drilled and operated by BHP, encountered significant hydrocarbon bearing reservoir. The 826-5 well is located on Gulf of Mexico's Green Canyon Block 826 in approximately 5,100 feet (1,554 meters) of water. The well detected 280 feet (85 meters) of hydrocarbons in the objective, Miocene. BHP Billiton holds a 23.9% working interest in Mad Dog. While BHP Billiton was the designated operator for the purposes of drilling the Mad Dog South well and sidetrack, BP is the field operator with a 60.5% working interest. Chevron holds a 15.6% working interest in Mad Dog.

May. 2009 - Transocean's CR Luigs drillship is set to spud an appraisal well at the Mad Dog South field, located on Green Canyon Block 826 in the GOM. Mad Dog South is an extension of the Mad Dog field and is operated by BP. BP holds a 60.5% working interest in the field; Chevron holds a 15.6% interest; and BHP holds the remaining 23.9% interest.

Jan. 2009 - BP submitted an Exploration Plan (EP) to the MMS for Green Canyon Blocks 825 & 826 (Mad Dog South). The EP proposes to drill and temporarily abandon four exploratory wells in the Mad Dog South project area. BHP's C.R. Luigs is tentively scheduled to spud well locations AA, AB, AC and AD in 2009.

Dec. 2008 - BP awarded Worley Parsons an engineering and project management services (EPMS) contract which includes brownfield topsides modifications, as well as topsides work associated with tiebacks executed by the Gulf of Mexico Subsea Projects Groupon BP's Holstein and Mad Dog Facilities. Mad Dog and Holstein Conversions for Greater Puma. It anticipated a significant task force will be engaged on project work for the various facilities during the term of the contract. BP's Holstein spar platform is located on Green Canyon 645 and is considered the world's largest truss spar facility hull hull and mooring system. The Mad Dog facility, located on Green Canyon 782, a truss spar, equipped with facilities for simultaneous production and drilling operations, including an integrated drilling rig, dry trees, and 16 well slots.

Sep. 2008 - BP says the most significant damage appears to be to the Mad Dog spar which was directly in Hurricane Ike's path. Mad Dog's drilling derrick, which sits atop the platform, was toppled and is on the sea bed.

Mar. 2005 - Unocal said that an appraisal well drilled on the deepwater Mad Dog Southwest Ridge in the GOM encountered significant hydrocarbon pay. The discovery was further delineated by three sidetracks.

Jan. 2005 - BP announced the start-up of oil and natural gas production from the Mad Dog development. Located in 4,500 feet of water in Green Canyon Block 826, Mad Dog production began on Ja. 13.

Feb. 2002 - BHP Billiton has approved the development of its Mad Dog oil and gas discovery in the ultra-deepwater Green Canyon area of the Gulf of Mexico. The development includes the detailed engineering and installation of the spar facility and drilling of new development wells.