ExxonMobil has made two major oil discoveries and a gas discovery in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico after drilling the company's first post-moratorium deepwater exploration well.
The KC919-3 wildcat well confirmed the presence of a second oil accumulation in Keathley Canyon block 919. The well encountered more than 145 metres of net oil pay and a minor amount of gas in predominantly Pliocene high-quality sandstone reservoirs. The well, which is continuing to drill deeper, is located 250 miles southwest of New Orleans in approximately 2,100 metres of water.
Drilling in early 2010 encountered oil and natural gas at Hadrian North in KC919 and extending into KC918, with over 170 metres of net oil pay and a minor amount of gas in high-quality Pliocene and Upper Miocene sandstone reservoirs.
ExxonMobil encountered 60 metres of natural gas pay in Pliocene sandstone reservoirs at its Hadrian South prospect in Keathley Canyon block 964 during drilling in 2009.
"We estimate a recoverable resource of more than 700 million barrels of oil equivalent combined in our Keathley Canyon blocks," said Steve Greenlee, President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company. "This is one of the largest discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico in the last decade. More than 85 percent of the resource is oil with additional upside potential."
"We plan to work with our joint venture partners and other lessees in the area to determine the best way to safely develop these resources as rapidly as possible," Greenlee said.
ExxonMobil is the operator of KC918, KC919, KC963 and KC964 with 50 percent working interest. Eni Petroleum US and Petrobras America each hold a 25 percent working interest in KC919, KC963 and KC964. Petrobras America holds a 50 percent working interest in KC918.
