Murphy abandons Thunder Bird sidetrack in deepwater gulf

Murphy Oil Corp.’s Thunder Bird sidetrack well in Mississippi Canyon Block 819 is being abandoned after reaching its Middle Miocene target at 21,900 ft.

The well encountered producible hydrocarbons within a 75-ft pay, however, the company said current low oil prices and its forthcoming 2016 budget review led to the decision of abandonment.

Murphy operates Thunder Bird and holds 87.5% working interest.