GULF OF MEXICO

Jennifer E. Smith
Houston

• Ocean Energy's primary working area in the Gulf of Mexico is shown above. A total of 25 properties were recently added. [15,205 bytes],

E&P Update:

• Vastar's Calgary exploration prospect on High Island Block 169 reached a TD of 14,530 ft and encountered more than 100 ft of gas pay in Lower Miocene sands. The well is located 50 miles west of Galveston, Tex., in 53 ft of water. Production is expected to begin late in the fourth quarter of 1998, following installation of a production caisson. Participating with Vastar (75%) is Spirit Energy 76 with 25% working interest.

• An exploratory well tested about 200 ft of net oil pay on the King prospect in Mississippi Canyon Block 764. Drilling was suspended due to an engine room fire on the Ocean Victory drilling rig. The well reached 17,580 ft and is scheduled to be drilled to a TD of 20,855 ft. Wireline logs have already detected 170 ft of net oil pay in two Miocene sands, as well as two other zones, that totaled 30 ft of net oil pay. The King prospect is in 3,285 ft of water about 70 miles south-southeast of Venice, Louisiana. Vastar operates the block with 50% working interest. Shell Deepwater Development has 33.33%, and BP Exploration & Oil has 16.67%.

• Basin Exploration has completed a Miocene-age sand well in West Delta 78 (No. 1) and perforated at 16,762-16,780 ft. On a short duration production test, the well flowed at 2,000 b/d of oil. The well will be temporarily suspended pending determination of facility sizing requirements and availability of third-party facilities for processing. Basin is the operator with a 48.25% working interest.

• Basin also logged more than 100 net ft of gas/condensate in East Cameron 34 (No. 2). The sands were Miocene age below a TVD of 10,350 ft. Basin plans to complete the well, suspend it, and await a decision on the installation of production facilities or connection to a nearby third-party platform. Basin operates the property with a 60% working interest.

• Phillips' fifth well on the Mahogany field in Ship Shoal blocks 349/359 increased the field's production to 19,900 b/d of oil. Previously, the field had been producing 9,200 b/d of oil. There are now five wells producing from the field, located in Ship Shoal Blocks 349/359. Gas production from the field is 31 MMcf/d. In addition, the operators will tie in the Agate subsea development in Ship Shoal Block 361 to the Mahogany platform during the second quarter of 1998. Phillips is operator of Mahogany field, holding 37.5% working interest; Anadarko holds 37.5%; and Amoco has 25%. Phillips and Anadarko each hold a 50% working interest in the Agate field.

• Forest Oil's well drilled on Eugene Island Block 43 in 17 ft of water hit 59 ft of net pay. The well was drilled to TD of 11,358 ft. Production casing has been set and the well will be temporarily abandoned awaiting completion.The block is about 26 miles off St. Mary Parish, Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. Forest said it plans to have the well on-line sometime in the third quarter. Forest Oil owns half of the well; Sonat owns the other half.

• Coastal Oil & Gas completed six development wells in West Cameron Block 498, about 110 miles off Louisiana. The block is producing 52 MMcf/d of gas and 7,800 b/d of oil from these six wells. The wells encountered 236-723 net ft of pay in multiple reservoirs. Future development plans for the block include drilling and completion of four additional wells. Coastal owns a 68.7% interest in the block; Energy Development holds 8.2%; IMC Global holds 23.1% working interest.

Copyright 1998 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.