Shell, partners announce Blacktip oil discovery in deepwater Gulf of Mexico

Shell Offshore Inc. announced an oil discovery at the Blacktip prospect in the deepwater US Gulf of Mexico offshore Texas. Shell operates Blacktip with 52.375% interest. Partners are Chevron USA Inc. 20%, Equinor Gulf of Mexico LLC 19.125%, and Repsol E&P USA Inc. 8.5%.

The Blacktip exploration well encountered more than 400 ft net oil pay on the Alaminos Canyon Block 380, about 250 miles south of Houston. Drilling continues to deepen the well and assess the structure’s potential.

Blacktip is in 6,200 ft of water and is part of the Perdido thrust belt about 30 miles from the Perdido platform. Shell said Blacktip could add to existing production in the Perdido area where Great White, Silvertip, and Tobago fields already are producing.

“Blacktip is Shell’s second material discovery in the Perdido corridor,” said Andy Brown, Royal Dutch Shell upstream director.