Anadarko finds oil at Vito in deepwater gulf

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 30 -- A group led by Anadarko Petroleum Corp. said the Vito exploration well cut more than 250 net ft of oil pay in subsalt Miocene sands and plans to drill two other prospects along trend in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

Vito went to 32,000 ft in 4,038 ft of water 170 miles south-southeast of New Orleans in Mississippi Canyon Block 984. The partners will evaluate data from Vito and set the timing for an appraisal well.

Anadarko plans to drill its Haleakala prospect to the west and Silverado to the east in 2010. Both target similar subsalt Miocene objectives.

Anadarko will move the Noble Amos Runner semisubmersible to the Caesar/Tonga development in the Green Canyon area.

Anadarko operates Vito with 20% working interest. Shell Offshore Inc. owns 55%, and StatoilHydro USA E&P Inc. has 25%. Shell will become Vito operator after the rig is released.