Chevron Ramps Up Gulf Production: Ballymore Project Hits Key Milestone

Chevron just brought another major project online in the Gulf of America. The Ballymore subsea tieback commenced oil and natural gas production, marking the latest addition to Chevron’s aggressive expansion strategy in one of the world’s most prolific energy basins.

Here’s why this matters: Ballymore is expected to pump up to 75,000 gross barrels of oil per day through three wells connected to the existing Blind Faith facility, located roughly 160 miles southeast of New Orleans in about 6,600 feet of water. The project sits in the Mississippi Canyon area and represents Chevron’s first development in the Norphlet trend of the Gulf.

Scaling Toward 300,000 Barrels a Day

The real story isn’t just one project—it’s the momentum. Chevron is steadily progressing toward its target of producing 300,000 net barrels per day of oil equivalent from the Gulf by 2026. Over the past year, the company has brought multiple operations online, including the industry-leading Anchor project and the non-operated Whale project since mid-2024. Simultaneously, Chevron ramped up water injection at Tahiti and Jack/St. Malo to enhance output.

Ballymore fits perfectly into this playbook. Estimated potentially recoverable resources total around 150 million barrels of oil equivalent over the project’s lifetime, representing significant long-term value.

Efficiency Over Infrastructure

What sets Ballymore apart is how it was executed. The project was delivered on schedule and within budget without requiring a new standalone offshore platform. Instead, it leveraged existing infrastructure by tying back to the Blind Faith facility. This approach substantially reduces development costs and improves shareholder returns—a key metric for Chevron’s operational strategy.

According to Chevron’s leadership, this represents how modern deepwater technology and operational efficiencies can unlock affordable, reliable energy from a basin that maintains some of the lowest carbon intensity levels globally.

Project Ownership and Future Growth

Chevron U.S.A. Inc. operates Ballymore with a 60 percent working interest, while TotalEnergies E&P USA, Inc. holds the remaining 40 percent. As a leading leaseholder in the Gulf, Chevron continues exploring additional growth opportunities across the basin, signaling sustained commitment to the region’s development despite evolving global energy dynamics.