Using new technology to increase transport speed from thewellhead to the pipeline, Mobil Exploration & Producing U.S.Inc. said it recently commenced selling gas from the newly streamedMobile 822 No. 6 well, in the Gulf of Mexico. The company said theprocess, which took 369 days, was its fastest drill-to-salesoperation to date in the Mobile Bay.

“For starting from scratch, this is the fastest we’ve everturned gas from the ground and into a marketable commodity,” saidspokesman Len D’Eramo. “It normally takes about 18 months. Otherwells go much faster, but they are usually from spud-to-sales sothey don’t start from scratch.”

The well is located in federal waters on the Mobile 823 field,five miles south of Dauphin Island AL. It was drilled to a measureddepth of 21,922 feet and is currently producing 42 MMcf/d.Production from the well brings Mobil’s total average grossproduction from the Mobile 823 Field to 200 MMcf/d, increasingMobil’s current working interest to 120 MMcf/d. The total averagegross production from 13 Mobil-operated wells offshore Alabama isover 400 MMcf/d.

Mobil commenced gas sales from the Mobile 822 No. 6 well inrecord time due in part to the development and implementation of a”coolerless” facility design and the use of a new technologyhigh-temperature pipeline. Mobil said the high- temperaturepipeline allowed gas to be transported directly from the wellheadto the pipeline, eliminating the need for associated utilities andsystems controls on the facility. Implementation of the technologyreduced cycle time by an estimated six months, and allowed forsignificant cost savings. Mobil decline to disclose the actualmonetary amounts. Production from the new well is being marketed byDuke Energy Trading and Marketing LLC, a joint venture betweenMobil and Duke Energy.

This is the second major production expansion for the Mobile 823Field. In early June of 1998, Mobile 823 A-5 well went on line,adding 53 MMcf/d to the overall production from the field. Mobil,as operator, holds a 57.5% interest in the Mobile 823 field. Otherpartners in the field include Texaco (25%), Conoco (12.5%), andOccidental Petroleum (5%).

©Copyright 1999 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, inwhole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.