BP's Discovery Is Re-Named Thunder Horse

When BP signed a Letter of Intent with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Company, Ltd. of South Korea for the Crazy Horse project in the Gulf of Mexico, it would never have expected that the project would stir up a pot of controversy regarding its name. The project, which was named Crazy Horse by BP this past February, was disputed by the family of the Lakota warrior and spiritual leader of the same name. The tribes objection, according to BP, was based on Lakota tradition, which holds it sacrilegious to use the name outside a spiritual context.

"It is not our intent to dishonor and disrespect any individual or group of people," said Thunder Horse project general manager Mike Janssen. "BP's system of values rests upon certain strongly held beliefs, one of which is respect for individuals and the cultures they represent. When this matter was raised, we felt strongly that the project should be renamed." The new name, Thunder Horse, was selected because of its overall image similar to the previous project name — in keeping with the already established theme.

The $380 million contract calls for delivery in the first quarter of 2004, in time for module integration and production startup in early 2005. The scope of work includes the lower hull, deck box, some process and utilities equipment, a 188 person quarters, and a complete dual-hoist two million- lb. capacity fifth generation drilling system.

Measuring 350 x 350 ft. (106.6 x 106.6 m) the lower hull; and the upper hull, which will measure approximately 350 x 450 ft. (106.6 x 137.1 m) will be constructed at Daewoo's fabrication yard in Okpo, Korea

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