Hess logs oil pay in deepwater gulf well

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 17 -- Hess Corp. said wireline logs of its deepwater Pony prospect on Green Canyon Block 468 in the Gulf of Mexico indicate 475 ft of oil-saturated sandstones in Miocene age reservoirs. Hess drilled the well to 32,448 ft TD.

Hess next will drill a sidetrack appraisal well about 4,000 ft to the northeast of the wildcat. It will cut whole rock cores and run wireline logs in the sidetrack.

"Results to date have been consistent with predrill expectations," said a spokesman.

Hess paid nearly $35.3 million for 100% ownership in the block as the highest single bid of Gulf Lease Sale 190 in March 2004. The acreage lies in 800-1,599 m of water.