Devon Energy and ChevronTexaco have signed a joint participation agreement covering deepwater exploration projects in the Gulf of Mexico. The deal calls for Devon to participate in a four-well drilling program in exchange for a 25% working interest in 71 ChevronTexaco deepwater blocks. To date, 14 exploratory prospects have been identified on the joint-venture acreage.

The first well in the program, the Sierra prospect located in Atwater Valley Block 187, is now being drilled. Sierra is a sub-salt test with a target depth of 26,000 feet. The ChevronTexaco-operated well is utilizing the Transocean Discoverer Deep Seas drillship. The second well could be drilled as soon as the fourth quarter of 2002. The two remaining commitment wells are planned for 2003. The companies expect to drill additional prospects on the joint-venture acreage in subsequent years.

Each of the 14 prospects is located in one of Devon’s deepwater focus areas: the Miocene Trend in Mississippi Canyon and Atwater Valley, the Western Fold Belt in Alaminos Canyon or the Walker Ridge Fold Belt. The Western Fold Belt in Alaminos Canyon is near a recent industry discovery at Trident. The Walker Ridge Fold Belt is on trend with Devon’s recent Cascade discovery.

“This joint venture supplements our existing deepwater acreage, giving Devon a significant inventory of high-potential exploration prospects,” said Devon’s J. Michael Lacey, senior vice president of exploration and production. “It also fits our exploration strategy of partnering with proven deepwater operators and spreading our risks over a number of quality prospects.”

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