Noble Energy Inc. has made an oil discovery at the Dantzler exploration well in deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Dantzler’s discovered gross resources are estimated at 55-95 million boe.
The well encountered more than 120 net ft of primarily crude oil pay in two high-quality Miocene reservoirs. The well was drilled to a total depth of 19,234 ft in 6,580 ft of water on Mississippi Canyon Block 782. Dantzler is 12 miles west of the company's Rio Grande development area encompassing discoveries at Big Bend and Troubadour. In September Noble discovered natural gas in the gulf’s Troubadour prospect (OGJ Online, Sept. 11, 2013).
“Dantzler represents our third consecutive exploration discovery in the Miocene trend of the Gulf of Mexico and complements our existing developments at Rio Grande and Gunflint,” said Mike Putnam, Noble vice-president, exploration and geoscience. “The field's proximity to our Rio Grande area provides the opportunity for an accelerated development at Dantzler.”
The company said it plans to drill at least two more Miocene trend prospects in deepwater gulf in 2014.
Noble is Dantzler’s operator with 45% participating interest. Other interest holders include entities managed by Ridgewood Energy Corp., including Riverstone Holdings LLC and its portfolio company ILX Holdings II LLC, with 35%; and W&T Energy VI LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of W&T Offshore Inc., with 20% (OGJ Online, Sept. 30, 2013).
