By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 3 -- Houston-based Pogo Producing Co. reported making two natural gas discoveries with two wells in the central Gulf of Mexico.
The wells mark the company's first two of four exploration prospects scheduled for the fourth quarter, said Paul G. Van Wagenen, Pogo chairman and CEO. Pogo has two other exploratory wells currently being drilled on other prospects in the Main Pass area of the central gulf, Van Wagenen said. Each well is expected to reach its objective depth within 1-2 weeks.
Two wells
The first well, West Delta Block 54 No. 1, was drilled to 12,804 ft subsea and found a 33 ft hydrocarbon column in its primary objective below 12,600 ft. Pogo holds 100% working interest in the prospect, which lies in Louisiana state waters. The well was drilled on a 350 acre structure and flowed about 3 MMcfd of natural gas and 730 b/d of oil on test. "Development of this field will require only a caisson well protector and it will flow through a 4.5-in. flow line to Pogo's production facilities at South Pass Block 24 field," the company said. Production from this structure should begin late in the first quarter of 2003.
Main Pass Block 62 No. 3, the second well, is on a previously untested 200 acre "G-pod" structure in the northwest portion of the company's 100% owned Main Pass Blocks 61/62 field, Pogo said. The well found 40 ft of gas pay in its primary Miocene objective. The company plans to set a caisson well protector and will lay a 3 mile flowline to the company's production facilities in 61/62 field. The company has ordered a similar caisson to develop another gas discovery at the "E-pod" located in the northeast corner of Main Pass Block 61.
Both of these gas discoveries should begin producing through the Main Pass Blocks 61/62 A-platform facilities by mid-year 2003, Pogo said.
