Noble Energy Inc., Houston, has advanced its exploration and appraisal drilling operations on the Katmai prospect on Green Canyon Block 40 and the Dantzler prospect on Mississippi Canyon Block 782 in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
A total of 154 net ft of crude oil pay was discovered in multiple reservoirs from Katmai, including 117 net ft in Middle Miocene and 37 net ft in Lower Miocene reservoirs, according to wireline logging data. The discovery well was drilled to a total depth of 27,900 ft in 2,100 ft of water.
Noble estimates total gross resources at Katmai to fall between 40-100 million boe, including 40-60 million boe discovered from the initial well. The company notes that additional exploration and appraisal drilling will be required to test the remaining upside potential.
Separately, the Dantzler-2 appraisal well encountered 122 net ft of crude oil pay in two high-quality Miocene reservoirs. The well was drilled to a total depth of 18,210 ft in 6,600 ft of water.
Noble has increased gross resource estimates at Dantzler, where the discovery was made last December, to between 65-100 million boe (OGJ Online, Dec. 4, 2014).
Noble says Dantzler has been incorporated into its plans in the Rio Grande development area, which also includes discoveries at Big Bend and Troubadour (OGJ Online, Nov. 28, 2012; Sept. 11, 2013). The Rio Grande development remains on schedule, with production from Big Bend expected to commence in fourth-quarter 2015 and Dantzler in first-quarter 2016.
The rig at Dantzler has started well completion operations on Dantzler-2 and will then complete the Dantzler-1 discovery well.
“What we discovered at Katmai represents another commercial discovery in the Miocene trend and derisks nearby prospects in the company’s Aleutians area,” said Susan M. Cunningham, Noble senior vice-president, Gulf of Mexico, West Africa, and frontier, adding, “Our appraisal program at Dantzler has exceeded our expectations and enhances the value of the development.”
Noble operates Katmai, splitting interest 50-50 with Ridgewood Energy Corp.; and Noble operates Dantzler with 45% interest, partnering with entities managed by Ridgewood Energy Corp. with 35% and W&T Energy VI LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of W&T Offshore Inc., with 20% (OGJ Online, Sept. 30, 2013).
