Beacon Offshore Energy encountered oil in the Winterfell-2 appraisal well on Block 943 in the Green Canyon area of the US Gulf of Mexico, said partner Kosmos Energy (16.4%).
The objective of the well—drilled to a total depth of about 8,700 m (28,500 ft) in 1,600 m (5,800 ft) of water—was to evaluate the adjacent fault block to the northwest of the original Winterfell discovery and to test two horizons that were oil bearing in the Winterfell-1 well, with an exploration tail into a deeper horizon (OGJ Online, Jan. 19, 2021).
The well discovered about 40 m (120 ft) net oil pay in the first and second horizons with better oil saturation and porosity than pre-drill expectations. The exploration tail has discovered an additional oil-bearing horizon in a deeper reservoir which is also prospective in the blocks immediately to the north.
Results of the appraisal further define resource potential in the central Winterfell area, with about 100 million bbl gross estimate.
Separately, Kosmos farmed down an interest in two blocks immediately to the north of the Winterfell discovery to owners of the central Winterfell discovery in exchange for cash consideration and the retention of an overriding royalty interest.
The Winterfell complex lies within tie back distance to existing and planned host infrastructure and the partnership is working to define the development plan, Kosmos said.
An affiliate of Beacon Offshore Energy LLC is operator of the Winterfell-2 well. Additional interest owners include Red Willow Offshore LLC, Ridgewood Monarch North LLC, CSL Exploration LP, CL&F Offshore LLC, Houston Energy LP, Beacon Offshore Energy Exploration LLC, and Beacon Asset Holdings LLC.
