By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 22 -- Deepwater work continues to be the "driving force" behind the Gulf of Mexico's production and potential growth, according to the US Minerals Management Service.
MMS said operators last year made 10 oil and gas discoveries in the gulf's deep water (greater than 1,000 ft).
"The discoveries are encouraging," noted Chris Oynes, MMS's Gulf of Mexico regional director. "The Gulf of Mexico continues to represent the major domestic energy source for the United States."
Oynes said the Big Foot and Knotty Head discoveries confirm the extensive Middle to Lower Miocene play in the Mississippi fan foldbelt area. "And the new Stones discovery by BP adds to the discoveries in the Lower Wilcox Paleogene play," he said.
The rig count also indicates strong activity, MMS said. In mid-March, there were 42 rigs working in deep water, including 10 rigs drilling in 5,000 ft or more of water. Just a year ago, 6 rigs were in ultradeep water.
The 2005 discoveries, with operators, blocks, and water depths, are: Stones, BP, Walker Ridge 508, 9,576 ft; Jubilee Extension, Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Lloyd Ridge 309, 8,774 ft; Mondo NW Extension, Anadarko, Lloyd Ridge 001, 8,340 ft; Q, Spinnaker Exploration Co., Mississippi Canyon 961, 7,925 ft; Big Foot, Chevron Corp., Walker Ridge 29, 5,286 ft; Genghis Khan, Anadarko, Green Canyon 652, 4,300 ft; Wrigley, Newfield Exploration Co., Mississippi Canyon 506, 3,700 ft; Knotty Head, Chevron-Unocal Corp. (discovery well operator; Nexen Inc. is block operator), Green Canyon 512, 3,557 ft; Clipper, Pioneer Oil & Gas Co., Green Canyon 299, 3,452 ft; and Anduin, Nexen, Mississippi Canyon 755, 2,400 ft.
