Talos Energy submits drilling plans for Zama well off Mexico

Talos Energy LLC, Houston, and partners have submitted appraisal drilling plans to Mexico’s government regarding the Zama-1 discovery well on Block 7 in the shallow-water Sureste basin offshore Mexico. The appraisal well is expected to spud in the fourth quarter.

Talos Energy operates Block 7 with 35% interest. Partners are Sierra Oil & Gas 40% and Premier Oil PLC 25%. Premier Oil said the group plans to drill an appraisal well with one sidetrack to confirm the oil-water contact as defined by a seismic flat spot. Drilling plans also seek to confirm detailed distribution of the reservoir.

Zama’s principal target is Tertiary clastic reservoirs. The Zama structure is estimated to have a gross unrisked resource range of 100-500 million bbl. The Zama exploration well spudded in 2017 (OGJ Online, May 22, 2017). A secondary target is Zama Deep.

Premier Oil also noted that Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) is negotiating for a rig for appraisal drilling in an adjacent block.