Talos discovers hydrocarbons in Ewing Bank

Talos Energy Inc. encountered commercial quantities of oil and natural gas in its Katmai West #2 well in the Ewing Bank area of the US Gulf of Mexico.

The well was drilled by the West Vela drillship in late October 2024 to about 27,000 ft TVD. It encountered the primary target sand full-to-base with over 400 ft of gross hydrocarbon pay and excellent rock properties in line with pre-drill expectations, the company said in a release Jan. 15.

Talos plans to case and suspend the well by late January. Completion plans are expected to be executed in this year's second quarter. Production is expected to start later that same quarter. Expected deliverability from the well is in line with pre-drill estimates of about 15,000–20,000 boe/d.

The well will be connected to the existing subsea infrastructure that flows to the Tarantula platform, which has been expanded to increase capacity to 35,000 boe/d. Talos anticipates the Katmai wells will be rate-constrained under the upgraded capacity, allowing for extended flat-to-low decline production from the infrastructure. 

The performance of the Katmai West #1 well, plus the successful appraisal of Katmai West #2, have nearly doubled the Proved EUR of Katmai West field to about 50 MMboe gross, which further affirms the company's expected total resource potential of about 100 MMboe gross, the company said.

Talos is operator at Katmai West field (50%) with entities managed by Ridgewood Energy Corp. holding the remaining 50%. Talos is the 100% owner and operator of the Tarantula platform.