An appraisal well near the 2009 Heidelberg discovery in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico has confirmed the initial resource estimate of more than 200 million bbl of oil, said Anadarko Petroleum Corp.
Heldelberg-2 went to 31,030 ft in 5,000 ft of water 1.5 miles south and 550 ft structurally updip from the discovery well on Green Canyon Block 903. It encountered 250 net ft of oil pay in high-quality Miocene sands.
Log and pressure data from the appraisal and discovery wells indicate excellent quality, continuous, and pressure-connected reservoirs with the same high-quality oil. The discovery well encountered more than 200 net ft of oil pay.
Anadarko will sidetrack the appraisal well to evaluate the downdip extent of the field and will initiate prefront-end engineering and design work to prepare for sanctioning a development project.
Anadarko operates the block with a 44.25% working interest. Coowners are Apache Deepwater LLC and Eni SPA 12.5% each, Statoil ASA 12%, and ExxonMobil Corp. and Cobalt International Energy LP 9.375% each.
Alan Petzet | Chief Editor Exploration
Alan Petzet is Chief Editor-Exploration of Oil & Gas Journal in Houston. He is editor of the Weekly E&D Newsletter, emailed to OGJ subscribers, and a regular contributor to the OGJ Online subscriber website.
Petzet joined OGJ in 1981 after 13 years in the Tulsa World business-oil department. He was named OGJ Exploration Editor in 1990. A native of Tulsa, he has a BA in journalism from the University of Tulsa.
