Shell Offshore Inc., a Royal Dutch Shell PLC subsidiary, is evaluating a “significant” discovery made at the Leopard prospect in US Gulf of Mexico deepwater to further define development options.
The Leopard well encountered over 600 ft (183 m) net oil pay at multiple levels, the company said in a release May 11.
The discovery expands the company’s position in the Gulf of Mexico and could increase production in the Perdido Corridor, where Shell's Great White, Silvertip, and Tobago fields are already producing, the company said. The Whale discovery is progressing toward a final investment decision in 2021.
Leopard lies in OCS block Alaminos Canyon (AC) 691, about 20 miles (32 km) east of the Whale discovery, 20 miles (32 km) south of the recently appraised Blacktip discovery, and 33 miles (53 km) from the Perdido host.
Leopard is operated by Shell (50%) and co-owned by Chevron USA Inc. (50%).