Shell to set another world water depth mark in gulf. (Shell Offshore Inc.)

A unit of Shell Oil Co. is poised to shatter the world water depth production record with a subsea field development project in 5,400 ft of water in the Gulf of Mexico.

Several records for subsea technology will fall as well when production begins in 1997 from Shell Offshore Inc.'s Mensa field. It lies under parts of Mississippi Canyon Blocks 686, 687, 730, and 731, about 140 miles southeast of New Orleans.

Mensa's water depth will exceed by more than 2,000 ft the current deepwater record for oil and/or gas production.

Petroleo Brasileiro SA in late April 1994 began producing oil and gas from its 4 Marlim well in 3,370 ft of water off Brazil in the Campos basin (OGJ, May 9, 1994, p. …