The approval, which was needed to proceed with the project in Green Canyon Block 244, will allow Marathon to produce multiple reservoirs in the same well bore.
Marathon worked with the MMS to gain approval for the request after it was initially rejected. First oil from the $1.3 billion project is planned next year.
Marathon still plans to tie-back the project to Shell's Bullwinkle platform about 18 miles (29 kilometres) to the north-west.
Shell
