GULF OF MEXICO SUBSALT DISCOVERY HAS BIGGER FLOW

The outlook for subsalt oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico improved again last week when the operator of the Mahogany wildcat strike disclosed results of further well tests. The latest announcement by Phillips Petroleum Co. said the Mahogany discovery, on Ship Shoal South Addition Block 349, flowed 7,256 b/d of oil and 9.944 MMcfd of gas through a 1/2 in. choke with 7,063 psi flowing tubing pressure from a longer perforated interval in the same pay zone tested a week earlier.

Oct. 11, 1993

2 min read

The outlook for subsalt oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico improved again last week when the operator of the Mahogany wildcat strike disclosed results of further well tests.

The latest announcement by Phillips Petroleum Co. said the Mahogany discovery, on Ship Shoal South Addition Block 349, flowed 7,256 b/d of oil and 9.944 MMcfd of gas through a 1/2 in. choke with 7,063 psi flowing tubing pressure from a longer perforated interval in the same pay zone tested a week earlier.

In late September, Phillips and partners Anadarko Petroleum Corp. and Amoco Production Co. reported the 1 OCS-G-12008 Mahogany well flowed 3,700 b/d of oil and 559 Mcfd of gas through a 14/64 in. choke with 6,800 psi flowing tubing pressure (OGJ, Oct. 4, Newsletter).

Several other gulf operators plan to drill subsalt wildcats, and many believe a commercial subsalt discovery would spawn a major subsalt exploratory play in the gulf (OGJ, July 26, p. 23.

Phillips and its partners won't say whether Mahogany could be the subsalt discovery awaited by many companies. But Mahogany's substantial test flows at a site in only 370 ft of water on the gulf shelf--and within relatively easy reach of oil and gas pipeline infrastructure--indicate the discovery could be commercial under several development scenarios.

Phillips and Anadarko each own 37.5% interest in the Mahogany prospect, Amoco 25%.