ChevronTexaco Tahiti well test exceeds expectations

Oct. 20, 2004
ChevronTexaco reported that a test of its Tahiti discovery well, Green Canyon 640 No. 1 in the Gulf of Mexico, indicates that production could be as much as much as 30,000 b/d of oil, exceeding pretest estimates of 25,000 b/d.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Oct. 20 -- ChevronTexaco reported that a test of its Tahiti discovery well, Green Canyon 640 No. 1 in the Gulf of Mexico, indicates that production could be as much as much as 30,000 b/d of oil, exceeding pretest estimates of 25,000 b/d.

The well's peak rate during the production test reached 15,000 b/d.

"The well test was successfully completed in early September in 4,100 ft of water and at 25,812 ft subsea," said Kathleen Arthur, vice-president of ChevronTexaco's Gulf of Mexico deepwater unit. "This makes it the deepest successful well test in the history of the Gulf of Mexico, which is even more significant because it is in a high-pressure environment."

Tahiti was announced as a significant discovery in 2002, with a net pay zone of more than 400 ft (OGJ Online, Apr. 3, 2002). Subsequent appraisal drilling resulted in one of the most significant net pay accumulations in the history of the Gulf of Mexico with one well encountering more than 1,000 ft of net pay in high-quality sandstone.

ChevronTexaco earlier announced major engineering contracts for development of Tahiti's subsea systems and floating production facility (OGJ Online, Apr. 15, 2004).

ChevronTexaco is the operator of the Tahiti Project with a 58% working interest. Tahiti partners are EnCana Gulf of Mexico LLC 25% and Shell Gulf of Mexico Inc. 17%.