By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 10 -- Ocean Energy Inc. and Kerr-McGee Corp. announced a deepwater natural gas discovery at their Merganser prospect on Atwater Valley Block 37 in the Gulf of Mexico. Kerr-McGee operates the block in which each company holds a 50% interest.
The 1 OCS 21826 Number 1 discovery well was drilled to 21,268 ft encountering 150 ft of gas pay in 7,900 ft of water. Gross estimated reserve potential is 200-400 bcfe. Ocean and Kerr-McGee expect to drill an appraisal well later this year to further evaluate Merganser field.
"This discovery demonstrates our ability to deliver continued exploratory success and leverage our growing portfolio in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico," said John D. Schiller, Jr., Ocean Energy executive vice-president of exploration and production.
Merganser was drilled under the deepwater exploratory drilling joint venture between Kerr-McGee and Ocean that calls for the two companies to jointly explore and develop oil and gas prospects on more than 1 million undeveloped acres in the deepwater gulf.
