Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NBL) ("Noble Energy" or "the Company") announces that it has recently commenced production at the Company's Gunflint oil development in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The two-well field is ramping up and is anticipated to reach a minimum gross production of 20 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBoe/d), with oil representing approximately 75 percent of the volumes produced. The net amount to Noble Energy is expected to be at least 5 MBoe/d, with potential for additional volumes dependent upon available capacity at the third-party host facility. The Gunflint development, located at Mississippi Canyon Block 948, is a subsea tie-back to the Gulfstar One facility owned by Williams Partners L.P. and Marubeni Corporation.

Image courtesy: Noble Energy

Hodge Walker, Noble Energy's Vice President, Gulf of Mexico and West Africa, stated, "The Gunflint project marks our fourth successful offshore major project completed within the past nine months, including the start-up of Big Bend and Dantzler in the Gulf of Mexico as well as the non-operated Alba B3 compression platform in Equatorial Guinea. Our drilling and completions teams delivered impressive technical accomplishments on the Gunflint development, including several innovative first time techniques for the industry. The coordination of simultaneous operations, including topside modifications at the floating production system and subsea well activities, is an accomplishment for all involved. The project was completed on time and under budget and will provide significant impact to Noble Energy as we progress through the rest of the year and into 2017."

Noble Energy operates the Gunflint field with a 31.14 percent working interest. Other working interest owners include Ecopetrol America Inc. with 31.50 percent, Samson Offshore Mapleleaf, LLC with 19.13 percent, and Marathon Oil Corporation with 18.23 percent.