Shell production begins in Perdido Development

Oil and gas production by Royal Dutch Shell has begun at the world's deepest offshore facility in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Perdido Development breaks the depth record for an oil platform of this type by more than 40 per cent, sitting in 2,450 metres of water.

According to the organisation, the initiative is the beginning of a new era in oil manufacturing and it will act as a large source of energy for many people in the US.

"Perdido is an impressive project in a strong Gulf of Mexico portfolio that continues to grow," upstream Americas director for Shell Marvin Odum said.

He added: "Perdido presented technical challenges unlike we've ever seen in the Gulf of Mexico."

The floating production centre is jointly-owned by Shell and fellow industry giants Chevron and BP.

Shell recently announced its new biogasoline plant launched in the US is operational and running smoothly, with fuel being derived from plant sugars.