bp has begun production from the Atlantis Drill Center 1 expansion in the US Gulf of America, marking the company’s seventh major upstream project to start up this year. The expansion is expected to contribute roughly 15,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) in gross peak annualized output to the existing Atlantis facility. The long-established platform, one of bp’s core assets in the region, is capable of producing up to 200,000 barrels of oil per day.
The Drill Center 1 development adds two new wells to an active subsea drill hub. Through a subsea tieback system that links new wells to existing infrastructure, the project extends development across the Atlantis field, first discovered in 1998.
Gordon Birrell, bp’s executive vice president for production and operations, commented “Atlantis Drill Center 1 rounds off a standout year for bp with seven major projects reaching startup. This development supports our plans to safely expand our upstream business, which includes growing US production to around 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030.”
bp brought the expansion online two months ahead of schedule by utilizing available subsea equipment, optimizing well drilling and completion, and creating a more efficient offshore execution plan. It is the fifth early-delivered major project for the company this year.
Mr Birrell added “This achievement reflects the commitment of our US project teams and colleagues around the world. They are delivering new barrels at pace while reducing production costs, helping us build long-term value for shareholders.”
The Atlantis Drill Center 1 expansion is the second in a series of new developments bp plans for the US Gulf of America through 2030. Collectively, these investments are expected to raise bp’s offshore production capacity in the region to more than 400,000 boe/d by the end of the decade.
Earlier in 2025, bp brought the Argos Southwest Extension online—another three-well subsea tieback projected to add around 20,000 boe/d of peak annualized production to the Argos platform. Looking ahead, the company plans to deliver the Atlantis Major Facility Expansion in 2027, further boosting output from the Atlantis field using existing infrastructure.
Andy Krieger, bp’s senior vice president for the Gulf of America and Canada, said “This latest expansion highlights the advantages of optimizing production from our established offshore platforms. We remain committed to investing in the US Gulf of America, which continues to play a vital role in providing secure, reliable energy for today and for the years ahead.”
Beyond Atlantis Drill Center 1, bp has also started major projects this year in Trinidad & Tobago (two projects), the UK North Sea, Egypt, Mauritania and Senegal, along with the Argos Southwest Expansion—moving the company toward its goal of delivering 10 major global start-ups by 2027. bp operates Atlantis with a 56% working interest, while Woodside Energy holds the remaining 44%.
