Dominion Exploration & Production Inc., New Orleans, on Friday said a second well confirmed commercial quantities of hydrocarbons at its previously announced Devils Tower discovery on Mississippi Canyon Block 773, about 140 miles southeast of New Orleans.
Mississippi Canyon 773 No. 3 was drilled to 15,000 ft TD below sea level by the Homer Ferrington drilling rig. Drilled in 5,610 ft of water, the well found hydrocarbons in three zones in a separate fault block northeast of the discovery well, Mississippi Canyon 773 No. 2. That discovery was announced by Dominion in February.
The appraisal well is still being evaluated, says Dominion, and a sidetrack will be drilled to further delineate the accumulation.
The firm holds a 60% working interest in the project. It will become operator after the drilling and evaluation of the No. 3 and sidetrack wells is completed.
The current operator, Houston-based Mariner Energy Inc., holds a 20% interest. Other partners include Pioneer Natural Resources Co. of Irving, Tex., 16%; and Denver-based Westport Oil & Gas Co. Inc., 4%.
Dominion and Mariner recently completed a deal transferring a 30% stake in Devils Tower from Mariner to Dominion (OGJ Online, May 8, 2000).
