BP announced today it has begun pumping oil from a new well in the Gulf of Mexico.

The British oil firm which touts itself as the USA’s largest energy investor announced the start-up of a third phase at its Na Kika project.

Oil production began on Friday (19 February) with a second well expected to start up in the second quarter of 2014.

BP has four major hubs in the Gulf of Mexico. Kika is a semi-submersible platform about 140 miles southeast of New Orleans in more than 6,000 feet of water.

BP operates and owns half of the Na Kika field, with first oil pumped up in 2003.

Industry experts believe deepwater exploration – hunting for oil and gas under the seabed thousands of feed below water surface – is a future trend in the sector.