GULF GAS/CONDENSATE STRIKE ON STREAM

CNG Producing Co., New Orleans, has started production from a hefty offshore gas/condensate discovery in the Gulf of Mexico's South Marsh Island area. The well, A-1 South Marsh Island Block 154, is producing at a stabilized rate of 60 MMcfd of gas and 2,400 b/d of condensate through 45/64 in. and 54/64 in. chokes with 2,300 psi flowing tubing pressure from 200 ft of Pleistocene pay below 14,400 ft. It was drilled to 15,000 ft. The flow later rose to 67 MMcfd and 2,560 b/d of condensate.

Nov. 22, 1993

2 min read

CNG Producing Co., New Orleans, has started production from a hefty offshore gas/condensate discovery in the Gulf of Mexico's South Marsh Island area.

The well, A-1 South Marsh Island Block 154, is producing at a stabilized rate of 60 MMcfd of gas and 2,400 b/d of condensate through 45/64 in. and 54/64 in. chokes with 2,300 psi flowing tubing pressure from 200 ft of Pleistocene pay below 14,400 ft. It was drilled to 15,000 ft.

The flow later rose to 67 MMcfd and 2,560 b/d of condensate. Pressure, as expected, dropped to 2,100 psi.

Operator CNG and Nerco Oil & Gas Inc., Houston, each with a 50% interest, spudded the well last April. Louisiana Land & Exploration Co. (LL&E), New Orleans, in September closed a $354 million acquisition of Nerco's Gulf of Mexico interests, including Block 154 (OGJ, Sept. 27, p. 20).

During testing in June, A-1 flowed 20 MMcfd of gas and 1,100 b/d of condensate from the deeper of two pays (OGJ, July 12, p. 38). CNG and LL&E in September installed a modified, used platform in Block 154 field and in October started production from A-1.

The companies early this month spudded 2 South Marsh Island 154 with Diamond Offshore's Ocean King jack up and in mid-November A-2 South Marsh Island 154 with Rowan's Charles Rowan jack up. Those wells are projected to 16,500 ft to test the potential of deeper zones.

South Marsh Island 154 field lies in 246 ft of water about 170 miles southwest of New Orleans.