On 16 December 2025, Shell said it had taken a final investment decision for a waterflood development at the Kaikias field in the US Gulf of Mexico. The project will use water injection to support reservoir pressure and increase oil recovery, with production tied back to the Ursa hub in the Mars Corridor.
Shell said the Kaikias waterflood is expected to add around 60 million metric barrels of oil equivalent (P50) to recoverable resource volumes. The company noted the volumes are currently classified as 2P under the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ Resource Classification System, and that the stated recoverable resources are 100% total gross figures.
The first injection is expected in 2028. Shell also said the development is expected to extend the producing life of Ursa by several years.
Kaikias was discovered in August 2014 in more than 1,219 m (4,000 ft) of water, about 209 km (130 miles) off the Louisiana coast. Production started in May 2018 via flowback to Ursa.
Shell operates the Ursa Tension Leg Platform and holds 61.3484% ownership, alongside BP Exploration & Production Inc. (22.6916%) and ECP GOM III, LLC (15.96%). Shell reiterated its aim to sustain liquids production at around 1.4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day until 2030.
