By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 4 -- Marathon Oil Corp. has completed a successful appraisal of its Droshky discovery on Green Canyon Block 244 in the Gulf of Mexico 137 miles south-southwest of Venice, La.
The appraisal program consisted of drilling a downdip sidetrack well in about 2,900 ft of water and a lateral sidetrack well.
The downdip sidetrack encountered more than 600 ft of net oil pay, and the lateral sidetrack encountered 300 ft of net oil pay.
The discovery well, which was drilled to 21,190 ft TD, had encountered 250 ft of net oil pay (OGJ, Apr. 16, 2007, Newsletter).
Based on the results of the three well penetrations, Marathon estimates the Droshky discovery holds mean reserves of 80-90 million gross boe.
Preliminary analysis suggests that Droshky holds 30-32° oil, which is similar to that of Troika field. All pay intervals are in the Upper Miocene formation, Marathon said.
The company expects to produce this field via subsea completions through the Troika field production system, 2 miles away and the Bullwinkle platform.
Marathon said production could start as early as 2010 if regulatory approvals and key equipment deliveries are timely.