Shell makes Fort Sumter discovery in Gulf of Mexico

Royal Dutch Shell PLC encountered hydrocarbons after drilling its Fort Sumter prospect on Mississippi Canyon Block 566, about 73 miles offshore southeast of New Orleans in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

Fort Sumter was drilled to a total vertical measured depth of 28,016 ft. An appraisal sidetrack well was later drilled to 29,200 ft measured depth. The 9-sq-mile block is operated by Shell with 100% interest.

The initial estimated recoverable resources for the Fort Sumter well are more than 125 million boe. Shell says further appraisal drilling and planned wells in adjacent structures could “considerably increase” recoverable potential in the vicinity of the Fort Sumter well.

Shell says its total resources added by gulf exploration since 2010 now totals 1.3 billion boe. Shell global deep water produces 600,000 boe/d, and output is expected to increase to 900,000 boe/d by the early 2020s from already discovered, established reservoirs.