Shell subsidiary Shell Offshore has announced the final investment decision (FID) to increase production at the Perdido platform in the US Gulf of Mexico.

As part of the plan, Shell Offshore will drill three wells in the ultra-deepwater Great White oilfield.

When the project ends in April 2025, the combined production from all of these wells is anticipated to reach up to 22,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) at maximum rates.

As the operator, Shell Offshore owns a 33.34% working interest (WI) in the Great White oilfield.

Partners in the field include Chevron USA, with 33.33% WI and BP Exploration & Production, which owns the remain 33.33% WI.

Production at the Perdido platform started in 2010. It is situated in roughly 2,438m of water, 321.8km south of Galveston, Texas.

Shell Offshore is also the operator of Perdido, which has a top production capacity of 125,000boe/d.

The UK-based oil and gas company said the FID highlights its commitment to production from the US Gulf of Mexico, which has one of the lowest greenhouse gas (GHG) intensities in the world for oil production.

Shell executive vice-president for deep water Rich Howe said: "Shell is the leading operator in the US Gulf of Mexico, and we continue to find ways to build on that position. By expanding our Perdido development, we continue to unlock the greatest value from this exceptional resource."

Last week, reports emerged that Shell is looking to invest $5bn (£3.99bn) in oil production offshore Nigeria and $1bn to increase natural gas output in the West African nation.

In November, Shell announced a gas discovery in the North East El-Amriya block offshore Egypt in the Mediterranean Sea.