A rich pocket of natural gas in the shallow waters off the coastof Mississippi is paying off handsomely for Chevron U.S.A.Production Co., which said yesterday that production has more thantripled this year in its Viosca Knoll Carbonate Trend to 230MMcf/d, up from 60 MMcf/d in 1999.

The trend, discovered with a wildcat well in 1994 by Chevron andpartner Samedan Oil Corp., a subsidiary of Noble Affiliates Inc.,began production in April 1998 (see Daily GPI, April 24, 1998). Thearea now is considered one of the most promising natural gas growthareas, not just for San Francisco-based Chevron and Noble, but forother energy companies as well. It holds an estimated 1 Tcf ofgross reserves.

The company’s GOM Shelf Business Unit, headquartered in NewOrleans, said a peak production rate of 239 MMcf/d for the trendwas achieved after the fifth and sixth fields in the trend. VioscaKnoll 251 and 252, began producing a combined 106 MMcf/d inNovember.

“Achieving this production record is a significant milestone inthe development of this new trend,” said Chevron U.S.A. ProductionPresident George Kirkland. He said the company was “excited” aboutthe trend’s potential and already is planning more developmentopportunities there in the next two years.

Located about 30 miles off the coast of Alabama and Mississippi,the Carbonate Trend has yielded six additional new discoveries atMobile 991 and at Viosca Knoll blocks 68, 114, 251, 384 and 385.The water depths are about 120 feet.

The Mobile 991 and Viosca Knoll 68 fields, which first beganproduction in 1998, and the Viosca Knoll 114 field, which beganproduction in 1999, flow approximately 110 MMcf/d to Mobile 990 forprocessing before they are exported through the ChandeleurPipeline.

Chevron also has partnered with El Paso Production Co. on twoleases in the Viosca Knoll, 384 and 385. Chevron, which holds a 40%working interest and the El Paso Energy Corp. subsidiary, whichholds 60%, began production on 385 in June.

In 1999, Chevron’s efforts in the Viosca Knoll resulted in twodiscoveries, and total production was estimated then to be 80MMcf/d from four wells. In the last three years, Chevron’s drillingresults in the trend have included six wildcat discoveries and twosuccessful delineation wells.

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