Alan Petzet
OGJ Chief Editor-Exploration
HOUSTON, Jan. 21 -- A group led by McMoRan Exploration Co., New Orleans, logged a fifth apparent net pay zone in the Davy Jones ultradeep shelf indicated discovery on South Marsh Island Block 230 off Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico.
After drilling to 28,603 ft, pipe-conveyed wireline logs run to 28,530 ft indicated a new hydrocarbon-bearing sand 65 ft thick. A neutron-density log will be required to quantify porosity, and flow tests are needed to confirm flow rates, McMoRan noted.
The new sand interval combined with the 135 ft of net pay in four other sands brings total possible productive thickness to 200 ft (OGJ Online, Jan. 11, 2010).
McMoRan as operator is funding 25.7% of exploratory costs and holds a 32.7% working interest and 25.9% net revenue interest. Other working interest owners include Plains Exploration & Production Co. 27.7%, Energy XXI (Bermuda) Ltd. 15.8%, Nippon Oil Exploration USA Ltd. 12%, W.A. “Tex” Moncrief Jr. 8.8%, and an undisclosed private investor 3%.
Contact Alan Petzet at [email protected].