3D SEISMIC YIELDS MORE OIL FOR ORYX OFF TEXAS

Oryx Energy Co., Dallas, has confirmed a 25-30 million bbl Gulf of Mexico oil discovery mapped by a 3D seismic survey on a lease held by gas production. With fast track development, High Island 384 unit could be producing as much as 10,000 b/d of oil by early 1995. Production could peak in 1996 at about 15,000 b/d. Oryx attributed the discovery, in about 360 ft of water on High Island East Addition South Extension Blocks A-379 and A-384, to its strategy of applying high technology in core

Nov. 8, 1993

2 min read

Oryx Energy Co., Dallas, has confirmed a 25-30 million bbl Gulf of Mexico oil discovery mapped by a 3D seismic survey on a lease held by gas production.

With fast track development, High Island 384 unit could be producing as much as 10,000 b/d of oil by early 1995. Production could peak in 1996 at about 15,000 b/d.

Oryx attributed the discovery, in about 360 ft of water on High Island East Addition South Extension Blocks A-379 and A-384, to its strategy of applying high technology in core operating areas.

Based on a reinterpretation of old 3D seismic data, Oryx last July spudded 1 High Island A-379. The well cut 179 ft of oil pay in three Pleistocene sands at 4,600-5,130 ft.

Spudded in August, the 5 High Island A-384 appraisal well cut 95 ft of oil pay in sands similar to and at about the same depth as those in 1 High Island 379.

Oryx in September spudded the 2 High Island A-379. That well further verified the discovery when it cut 287 ft of oil pay, including some zones not found in earlier wells.

PLATFORM PLANNED

Satisfied by the economic potential of estimated reserves, Oryx by December expects to begin fabricating an oil production platform. The platform is to be complete by October 1994.

Oryx expects to start producing oil at High Island 384 unit early in 1995 under a fast track development scheme in which it will perform several development steps in parallel rather than sequentially. Fast tracking is expected to advance production start-up by as much as 12 months.

Oryx is basing its oil exploration program in the High Island area on 3D seismic data collected and processed about 5 years ago to develop High Island 384 unit's gas field. In addition to its Pleistocene oil discovery on blocks A-379 and A-384, the 3D data indicate that other fault blocks underlie the High Island 384 unit. Oryx has spudded another well in the unit, 1 High Island A-385, to test an apparent deeper pay.

The High Island 384 unit includes Blocks A-278, A-379, A-384, and A-385, about 110-115 miles off Texas. Oryx, with a 100% interest in the 384 unit, currently produces gas from Pleistocene sands at about 3,000 ft through a conventional four pile platform on Block A-384.