GATE Energy has been awarded a contract for the construction management and commissioning of the Shell Sparta semi-submersible project.

Under the commissioning management and execution contract, GATE Energy will deliver full project life cycle support to ensure successful project execution.

Sparta's design closely mirrors the Vito and Whale projects, both of which are four-column semi-submersible host facilities. Vito, located in the greater Mars Corridor, began production in February 2023, while Whale in the Perdido corridor is expected to commence operations in 2024.

GATE Energy Commissioning president Mark Myhre said: "We are honoured to extend our long-standing partnership with Shell through the Sparta project. Over the last several years, GATE has successfully delivered multiple projects based on this model, including Vito and Whale, leveraging our global capabilities.

“We are excited to build on that foundation to deliver Sparta safely and efficiently. The all-electric topside compression technology represents a significant step forward for sustainability in offshore operations, and we look forward to ensuring its successful commissioning."

Sparta will feature a semi-submersible production host in more than 1,400m of water, initially with eight oil and gas producing wells.

GATE Energy played a crucial role in commissioning both Vito and Whale and aims to strengthen its partnership with Shell through the Sparta project.

Sparta is notable for being the first of Shell’s replicable projects to incorporate all-electric topside compression equipment, significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Scheduled to begin production in 2028, Sparta will be Shell’s 15th deep-water host in the Gulf of Mexico. The development is owned by Shell Offshore (51% operator) and Equinor Gulf of Mexico (49%).

It is expected to achieve a peak production of approximately 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, with an estimated recoverable resource volume of 244 million barrels of oil equivalent.

Sparta also represents Shell’s first Gulf of Mexico development to produce from reservoirs with pressures up to 20,000 pounds per square inch, marking a significant advancement in deep-water exploration and production.

GATE Energy specialises in delivering full project life cycle support including commissioning and initial start-up services.