The subsidiary firm of oil giant Shell, Shell Offshore, has announced the start up of production on the Appomattox platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

Shell said it had started production “months ahead of schedule”.

Operated by Shell Offshore, Appomattox has an expected production of 175,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

It is Shell’s largest floating platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

Andy Brown, Upstream director, Royal Dutch Shell, said: “That Appomattox was safely brought online ahead of schedule and far under budget is a testament to our ongoing commitment to drive down costs through efficiency improvements during execution.

“Appomattox creates a core long-term hub for Shell in the Norphlet through which we can tie back several already discovered fields as well as future discoveries.”

Appomattox is a joint venture between Shell (79%, operator) and CNOOC Petroleum Offshore S.A. Inc., a subsidiary of CNOOC Limited (21%).