W&T Offshore Inc. said its two-well drilling program in Ewing Bank in the Gulf of Mexico deepwater has proved successful, with the second discovery announced Tuesday.

The Ewing Bank (EW) 954 A-8 southwest of Louisiana reached total depth of 23,300 feet as part of a two-well drilling program from its EW 910 platform. The first well results were announced in May for the ST 320 A-5, which also was drilled from the platform. First production at the EW 954 A-8 is expected early next year.

“Based on our seismic analysis, we had high expectations for the reserve potential of the EW 954 A-8 exploration well, and we are delighted that the well appears to have exceeded our pre-drill estimates,” CEO Tracy Krohn said.

“This discovery also helps de-risk several additional opportunities we have identified as part of our future plans to drill and develop the area.”

The Houston-based independent operates the EW field and splits ownership of the wells 50-50 with Brazil’s Petroleos Brasilerio SA, better known as Petrobras.

The latest well penetrated 150 feet of measured depth hydrocarbon pay contained in two sands, W&T said.

“Completion operations are currently underway with a planned two-zone completion…Although no well flow tests have been conducted, based on formation evaluation data, we currently anticipate producing the well from the two zones at a restrained gross rate of approximately 2,300 boe/d.”

W&T holds working interests in 60 offshore fields, with 56 producing. It also has under lease about 1 million gross acres offshore, with 600,000 on the Outer Continental Shelf and 400,000 in the deepwater.