Total group hits Gabon’s first deepwater presalt find

Aug. 19, 2013
Total Gabon’s Diaman-1B exploratory well is the first discovery drilled in the deepwater portion of the presalt play offshore Gabon.

Total Gabon’s Diaman-1B exploratory well is the first discovery drilled in the deepwater portion of the presalt play offshore Gabon.

The well confirms the existence of a working petroleum system, and preliminary analysis suggests that the hydrocarbons are natural gas with condensate pending further log analysis.

Partner Marathon Oil Corp. said the well cut 160-180 net ft of hydrocarbon pay in the presalt. The well went to a total depth of 18,323 ft in 5,673 ft of water on the Diaba license G4-223. The wellsite is more than 60 miles from the nearest presalt commercial discovery.

The operator and partners are evaluating the well results and incorporating them into an overall evaluation of the discovery. The well will be temporarily abandoned pending further analysis of the data.

License interests are Total Gabon 42.5%, Marathon and Cobalt International Energy LP 21.25% each, and the Gabonese republic 15%.