Oil major Chevron said three more tendons designed to link its Big Foot deepwater oil project to the Gulf of Mexico seabed have sunk.
The announcement has created further concerns about how long it will take for the project to start.
Chevron said a total of nine tendons rested on the seabed after failing to float after six had sunk earlier in the week.
The Big Foot deepwater oil project had been months away from a planned initial startup for later in the year, but that timeframe has now been pushed back.
Four remotely-operated vehicle robots, which are equipped with cameras, have been deployed to the site.
The tendons range in diameter from 24 to 32 inches and are deigned to be buoyant and stay in place until the Big Foot platform is moved atop and connected.
Chevron said the platform is expected to produce 75,000 barrels of oil and 25 million cubic feet of natural gas per day once it opens.
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