SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 6, 2009-- Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) has announced that it has started crude oil production from its Tahiti Field, the deepest producing field in the Gulf of Mexico. First oil from Tahiti was achieved on May 5, 2009. Daily production is expected to ramp up to approximately 125,000 barrels of crude oil and 70 million cubic feet of natural gas before the end of the year.

The Tahiti Field is one of the largest in the Gulf of Mexico. It was discovered in 2002 and is estimated to contain total recoverable resources of 400 to 500 million oil-equivalent barrels. The total cost for the first phase of the project is $2.7 billion and represents one of 40 projects in which Chevron’s share of the investment is over $1 billion.

"Tahiti is a significant addition to our growing reserves and production," said George Kirkland, executive vice president, Global Upstream and Gas. "It is another demonstration of our deepwater expertise, and our ability to execute an industry-leading queue of major capital projects.”

Tahiti is located at Green Canyon Blocks 596, 597, 640 and 641, approximately 190 miles (305 kilometers) south of New Orleans, and in approximately 4,100 feet (1,250 meters) of water. Primary pay sands are Lower to Middle Miocene from 23,000 to 28,000 feet and lie below a salt canopy ranging from 8,000 to 15,000 feet thick. The deepest producing well is more than 26,700 feet, a record for the Gulf of Mexico. Production is from two subsea drill centers tied backed to a floating production facility supported by a truss spar.

Chevron holds a 58 percent working interest in Tahiti and is the operator, StatoilHydro holds a 25 percent working interest, and Total owns a 17 percent working interest.

Chevron Corporation is one of the world's leading integrated energy companies, with subsidiaries that conduct business worldwide. The company's success is driven by the ingenuity and commitment of approximately 62,000 employees who operate across the energy spectrum. Chevron explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and other energy products; manufactures and sells petrochemical products; generates power and produces geothermal energy; provides energy efficiency solutions; and develops the energy resources of the future, including biofuels and other renewables. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

Cautionary Statement Relevant to Forward-Looking Information for the Purpose of “Safe Harbor” Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Some of the items discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements about Chevron’s activities in United States. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” “projects,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “budgets” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The statements are based upon management’s current expectations, estimates and projections; are not guarantees of future performance; and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the company’s control and are difficult to predict. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are changes in prices of, demand for and supply of crude oil and natural gas; actions of competitors; the potential disruption or interruption of production and development activities due to war, accidents, political events, civil unrest, or severe weather; government-mandated sales, divestitures, recapitalizations and changes in fiscal terms or restrictions on scope of company operations; and general economic and political conditions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Unless legally required, Chevron undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules permit oil and gas companies to disclose only proved reserves in their filings with the SEC. Certain terms, such as “resources,” “oil in place,” “recoverable resources,” “oil-equivalent resources,” “potentially recoverable volumes,” “recoverable reserves,” and “recoverable oil,” among others, may be used in this press release or other public disclosures that are not permitted to be used in filings with the SEC.

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Source: Chevron Corporation

Chevron Corporation
Mickey Driver, +1-713-372-4912, Houston
MickeyDriver@chevron.com