As Shell Offshore Inc gives up 50% non-operated working interest in the Na Kika platform and associated fields in the Gulf of America, buyers Talos Energy and Ridgewood Energy will be required to assume certain decommissioning obligations with security coverage.

Approximately US$1.7bn transaction, it will also include the Coulomb tieback, which belonged entirely to Shell.

In Shell's outlook, Na Kika and Coulomb can be considered rapidly declining assets, which may reach end of life over the next few years. Last year, the assets generated around 37,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day for Shell. Its proven reserves generated from Na Kika by the end of 2025 were 4.3 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) while from Coulomb it were 7.2 million boe. The major is now reshaping its deepwater asset portfolio with a focus on attaining scale, efficiency and infrastructure. 

“The Gulf of America is one of our highest-value basins, and we are actively shaping our portfolio to ensure our Upstream business continues to be resilient and increasingly competitive,” said Peter Costello, Shell’s Upstream President. “We remain focused on sustaining our material liquids production into the next decade.” 

The Na Kika semi-submersible platform is Shell’s only non-operated platform in the Gulf of America, which began producing in 2003. bp, as operator of the platform, holds the remaining 50% working interest. The Coulomb tieback has been producing since 2005.

The United States remain a key market for Shell, with operations and interests in all 50 states. The company is one of the frontrunners in the Gulf of America as deepwaters operator, with significant presence in the region as an oil and gas producer and US LNG buyer.