By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 14 -- Dominion Exploration & Production Inc., a unit of Richmond, Va.-based Dominion, made an oil discovery at its Goldfinger prospect on Mississippi Canyon Block 771 in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The discovery well was drilled in 5,423 ft of water and found 57 net ft of oil-bearing sand at about 15,000 ft subsea.
The well was temporarily abandoned and will likely be completed as a subsea tieback to the Devils Tower spar on neighboring MC Block 773, Dominion E&P said.
Goldfinger represents the second subsea tieback prospect drilled by Dominion E&P near the Devils Tower spar. The Triton discovery, MC 772 No. 4, was drilled in 2002 and successfully appraised the MC 728 No. 1 well in 2003.
A three-well subsea development system is under way that will connect the discoveries to the Devils Tower host platform, which is expected to start production in the second quarter.
Dominion E&P is operator or and owns a 75% working interest in the Devils Tower, Triton, and Goldfinger prospects; partner Pioneer Natural Resources Co., Irving, Tex., holds the remaining interest in the project area.