Production averaged 46,600 b/d of oil equivalent in the fiscal first quarter ended Sept. 30 for Energy XXI (Bermuda) Ltd., Houston, including 29,700 b/d of oil.
A second rig will arrive soon in the Gulf of Mexico at the 100% owned West Delta 73 field, where the last two wells added more than 2,000 b/d of oil production.
The horizontal program begun a year ago has helped triple the field's oil output since its acquisition in December 2010 and exceeded expectations in production and reserves, the company said.
The Big Sky-3 well came online in mid-August at 1,275 b/d and 825 Mcfd with 750 psi flowing tubing pressure. Drilled to 11,600 ft measured depth, 7,995 ft true vertical depth, it has a 1,283-ft lateral in the F-30 sand.
The Hulk well went to 12,155 ft MD/9,326 ft TVD, including a 1,000-ft lateral in the H-35 sand. It came online last week at 1,690 b/d and 1,700 Mcfd with 1,360 psi flowing tubing pressure.
Gunn, the next West Delta horizontal well, has spudded and is projected to 10,850 ft MD/8,250 ft TVD, including a 1,000-ft lateral in the F-40 sand.
In the 100% interest Main Pass 61 field, the Don Lino well logged 126 ft of net pay in three sands. A high-angle well, it went to 9,550 ft MD/8,200 ft TVD and is to be dually completed in the J-6 and BA-4AA sands. It is expected online in mid-November. The Don Carlos well will follow as a dual completion in the same two sands.
In the company's shallow-water salt dome exploration play, the Fieldwood-operated Heron well on Main Pass Block 295 reached total depth of 19,555 ft MD/19,510 ft TVD. In addition to 76 ft of net oil pay in two shallow sands, the well found a combined 24 ft of oil pay in multiple sands between 11,400 ft and 16,700 ft MD. A delineation and development program is being evaluated, and follow-up drilling is to start near yearend.
The Energy XXI-operated Merlin well on Vermilion Block 178 is drilling below 14,100 ft MD/12,000 ft TVD. It targets multiple oil and gas sands trapped against a salt dome and has a proposed depth of 15,700 ft TVD.
Freeport-McMoRan is readying a completion at the ultradeep Davy Jones offset well with the Rowan EXL III expected on site in December. A production test is planned in the first half of 2014. Following that, the rig is to move to the Blackbeard complex to complete the Blackbeard West-2 well, which logged more than 200 ft of net pay.
McMoRan Oil & Gas plans to propose a completion in sands above 24,000 ft in the Lineham Creek exploratory well onshore in Cameron Parish, La., where total depth is 24,600 ft in a sidetrack hole.
The Lomond North prospect, a proposed 30,000-ft wildcat in the Highlander area mostly in St. Martin Parish, La., 65 miles north of Davy Jones, is drilling below 26,800 ft. It targets Lower Wilcox and Cretaceous objectives below the salt weld.
