MORE NORPHLET GAS COMING ON LINE OFF ALABAMA

More natural gas productive capacity is scheduled to come on stream soon in the Mobile Bay area off Alabama.

Unocal Corp. confirmed a Jurassic Norphlet gas discovery on Mobile Block 916 in federal waters off Alabama and expects to begin production from the field in early February 1995. Initial field output is expected to average 46 MMcfd.

The confirmation well on Block 916, Unocal 3 OCS-G 5753, flowed gas at a rate of 32.5 MMcfd through a 4/64 in. choke with flowing tubing pressure of 4,238 psi. It was drilled to total depth of 23,026 ft and cut 125 ft of pay in Norphlet sands below 22,700 ft. The confirmation was a follow-up to Unocal's 1991 discovery, 2 OCS-G 5753, also on Block 916. The No. 3 well is about 6,500 ft northwest of the discovery well.

Unocal is proceeding with installation of production/processing facilities on Block 916. Plans call for the production facilities to handle gas from the two Block 916 wells as well as two other wells completed previously in shallower Miocene pay on the block.

Unocal is developing its Norphlet prospects using wellhead platforms tied to a central processing platform where hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide are stripped from the gas before delivery to a gas transmission pipeline.

In addition, Unocal recently spudded an exploratory well, OCS-G 5761, on adjacent Block 961, about 18,500 ft southeast of the Block 916 discovery well. If it is successful, gas production from Block 961 could be - in mid 1996, utilizing the processing facilities on Block 916.

"The Norphlet formation is one of the company's strategic geologic trends in the Gulf of Mexico, and Block 916 is our third major deep gas field on the trend," said Jack Schanck, Unocal group vice-president for oil and gas operations. "We're exploring and developing other Norphlet prospects that could expand Unocal's production further."

Unocal is operator of and holds a 45.65% working interest in Blocks 916 and 961. Chevron U.S.A. Inc. also holds a 45.65% interest in the two blocks, and Offshore Bechtel Associates Ltd., an affiliate of Bechtel Energy, Resources Corp., holds the remaining 8.7%.

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