A New Offshore Blueprint Emerges in the Gulf of Mexico

A proven platform design speeds BP's Gulf project and signals a bold new model for deepwater development

30 Sep 2025

BP has approved a planned $5bn development at the Tiber Guadalupe field in the Gulf of Mexico, moving forward with a floating production platform that will be built with Seatrium under an existing memorandum of understanding. The project is one of the company’s largest US deepwater commitments in recent years and is expected to rely on a repeat of BP’s Kaskida platform design.

BP said it would reuse more than 85 per cent of the Kaskida layout, a strategy that remains unusual in US waters but is intended to reduce schedule risk and support a targeted start of production around 2030. The approach is also expected to narrow design changes during execution and streamline procurement.

For Seatrium, a major offshore construction group, the project provides an opportunity to strengthen its position in the US market and demonstrate the value of repeatable engineering models. The company’s role covers engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the new unit, subject to final contract terms.

Analysts view the Tiber Guadalupe plan as a potential template for later projects in the region. They argue that a proven design can shorten internal approvals, reduce uncertainty across supply chains and offer more predictable capital spending at a time when operators are under pressure to maintain investment discipline.

Any wider adoption of this model could encourage a steadier flow of deepwater activity and support employment across Gulf coast fabrication yards and service companies. Activity in the region has been measured in recent years, and observers see BP’s decision as an indication of renewed momentum.

Challenges persist. Regulatory expectations continue to evolve, and supply chain pressures remain a concern for long-lead equipment. Engineers will also need to adjust the Kaskida design to the Tiber reservoir’s specific conditions. But sector specialists say BP and Seatrium have the scale and experience to address these issues as they progress from an initial memorandum to a full contract.

The industry will monitor the project closely. Successful delivery could strengthen confidence in design-reuse strategies and set a precedent for future floating production developments in US deepwater fields.