
ALT Members of the Marine Minerals Administration and Shell pose in front of the Sparta floating production unit in Singapore. Sparta is expected to produce up to 90,000 barrels of oil per day, enough to support the daily travel of about 2 million cars in the United States.

ALT John Mouton, a production operations supervisory inspector with the Marine Minerals Administration, reviews documentation during a pre-production inspection of the Sparta floating production unit in Singapore. Sparta is expected to begin production in 2028 and will become Shell’s 11th development in the Gulf of America.

ALT Devon Manuel, a production operations section chief with the Marine Minerals Administration, receives information from a Shell employee during a pre-production inspection of the Sparta floating production unit in Singapore. MMA conducts inspections throughout the pre-production process to help ensure offshore facilities meet federal safety and operational requirements before entering service.

ALT Andre Mouton, a federal safety inspector with the Marine Minerals Administration, accompanies Shell employees during a pre-production inspection of the Sparta floating production unit in Singapore. Sparta will travel to Texas for additional preparation and a final round of pre-production inspections before heading to its offshore location in the Gulf of America.

ALT NOAA forecast map from October 7, 2026, showing Tropical Storm Isaias in the Gulf of America. The storm is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it moves northeast toward the northern Gulf Coast, reaching the coast early Saturday. Hurricane and tropical storm watches are in effect along portions of the Gulf Coast.


























