Houston-based Apache Corp. is finding sweet success along the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico, reporting that it has made five discoveries and 13 successful development wells — moving it up as the fourth ranked OCS producer for the first half of 2001. With the new wells, Apache’s current net production along the OCS is 345 MMcf and 34,000 b/d.

In the Gulf of Mexico alone, Apache now has 169 operated platforms and 489 active operated wells, and plans to spend $300 million this year for drilling and recompletion activities and facilities. It also has eight rigs in operation there, and expects that its Gulf operations will contribute almost $400 million of cash flow in the first half of 2001.

Among its latest discoveries, Apache has completed two dual-zone new-fault discovery wells on Grand Island Block 33, which are expected to come on stream in early August. The wells have an anticipated combined flow rate of 13.3 MMcf/d and 1,160 b/d of liquid hydrocarbons. The discoveries will be tied into existing production facilities on the block.

A new-fault discovery on North Padre Island Block A-12 is expected to come on stream in the fourth quarter at an anticipated rate of 10 MMcf/d. Apache also has two discoveries on its South Timbalier 295 block, which came on production at a combined initial rate of 2.2 MMcf/d and 1,848 b/d. The wells were sidetracked from an existing platform, and the company is now drilling a third well at the same location.

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