Equinor ASA encountered oil in the Monument exploration well in the central US Gulf of Mexico, providing an early indication of the productive reservoir interval at the well location, the company said Apr. 4.
Drilled to 33,348 ft TD (10,164 m) by Pacific Drilling’s Pacific Khamsin drillship, Equinor’s first operated exploration well in the US Gulf of Mexico since 2015 hit 200 ft (60 m) of net oil pay with good reservoir characteristics in Paleogene sandstone. The prospect is on Walker Ridge Blocks 271 and 272.
“We are pleased to have proved an accumulation of movable hydrocarbons in the Monument exploration well. However, determining the full potential of the discovery will require further appraisal drilling,” said Bjørn Inge Braathen, senior vice president of Exploration in North America. No details on a timeline for additional drilling were provided.
Equinor is operator with 50%. Partners are Progress Resources USA Ltd. 30%, and Repsol E&P USA Inc. 20%.
