LLOG Exploration brings deepwater gulf wells online

Sept. 17, 2018
LLOG Exploration Co. LLC, Covington, La., has brought online several wells in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico and will move forward with additional development projects.

LLOG Exploration Co. LLC, Covington, La., has brought online several wells in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico and will move forward with additional development projects.

Crown & Anchor—a previously announced two-well oil discovery in 4,200 ft of water on Viosca Knoll Blocks 959, 960, 1003, and 1004—was drilled by LLOG as operator to 14,000 ft TD targeting multiple Miocene sands. The wells were tied back to the Anadarko Petroleum-operated Marlin facility on Viosca Knoll Block 915. Both came online in early June and are producing at a combined rate of more than 10,000 gross boe/d. LLOG’s partners in Crown & Anchor are Beacon Offshore Energy Operating and Ridgewood Energy.

The Khaleesi and Mormont discoveries in the Green Canyon area were successfully drilled by LLOG as operator in 2017 in 3,900 ft of water to 30,625 ft TD. Both discoveries have been delineated by two wells and a sidetrack that discovered multiple oil-bearing Miocene horizons. LLOG is working on plans for a codevelopment of these discoveries and evaluating the need for a floating production system to develop the fields. Partners in Khaleesi and Mormont are Ridgewood Energy, Red Willow Offshore, CL&F Offshore, and Houston Energy.

Buckskin, in 6,800 ft of water, was delineated by multiple wells prior to 2018. The initial development phase includes the drilling of two development wells to 29,000 ft on Keathley Canyon Block 829 and a 6-mile subsea tieback to the Anadarko-operated Lucius FPS on Keathley Canyon Block 875 (OGJ Online, Jan. 26, 2018). Both development wells were drilled in 2018 by the Seadrill West Neptune drillship with LLOG as operator. Installation of subsea facilities will begin shortly, and first production from the field is expected in mid-2019. To fully develop the field—estimated to contain nearly 5 billion bbl of oil in place—additional wells and subsea facilities are required after the initial phase. LLOG’s partners are Repsol E&P USA Inc., Beacon Offshore Energy Buckskin LLC, Navitas Petroleum LP, and Ridgewood Energy.

Development of the Stonefly discovery has been sanctioned by LLOG and its partners. LLOG successfully drilled two wells at Stonefly including the discovery well in 2016 and a follow up well in 2017, both of which encountered oil-bearing sands in the Middle Miocene. Subsea tieback for the two wells to the nearby Ram Powell platform owned by Talos Energy is planned with estimated first production in December 2019. LLOG’s partners in Stonefly are Beacon Offshore Energy Operating, Houston Energy, Red Willow Offshore, and Ridgewood Energy.

A subsea pump installation project has been approved by LLOG and partner Deepwater Development Co. to optimize reserves and accelerate production from its Who Dat field. Completed installation is expected in second-half 2019, resulting in a production rate increase of 3,000 b/d of oil and an increase in proved reserves of 7-10 million boe.

LLOG has four previously announced gulf discoveries (6 wells) that are under development and are to be placed on production this year.

The LaFemme prospect on Mississippi Canyon Block 427 was discovered in mid-2016 and was appraised by a follow-up well in late 2016. The Blue Wing Olive prospect on Mississippi Canyon Blocks 427 and 471 was drilled in late 2016 with a discovery well encountering two oil and natural gas reservoirs in the Miocene. The Red Zinger prospect on Mississippi Canyon Block 257 was drilled in 2016 and found multiple Miocene targets. LaFemme, Blue Wing Olive, and the Red Zinger wells are being tied-back to the LLOG-operated Delta House facility on Mississippi Canyon Block 254. LLOG’s partners in LaFemme and Blue Wing Olive are Beacon Offshore Energy, Red Willow Offshore, Ridgewood, and Houston Energy. LLOG’s partners in Red Zinger are Beacon Offshore Energy, Red Willow, and Ridgewood.

The Claiborne prospect on Mississippi Canyon Block 794 had a discovery well drilled in 2015 and was appraised with a second well in late 2016. Both wells are being tied-back to the Walter-operated Coelacanth platform in Ewing Bank 834. LLOG’s partners in Claiborne are Ridgewood Energy, Red Willow, CL&F Offshore, and Beacon Offshore Energy.