Exxon blew away previous production test records for gas wellsin the entire Gulf of Mexico with a well in Mobile Bay about 2.5miles offshore south of Dauphin Island. The well tested at 126MMcf/d. The previous record in Alabama state waters was 91 MMcf/dand the record for the Outer Continental Shelf is 113 MMcf/d.

The record Exxon well was drilled earlier this year in 40 feetof water and to a depth of 21,849 feet. “The well was unable toflow at its maximum potential rate during the test due tolimitations in the capacity of the production platform,” said DavidBolin, assistant supervisor for the State Oil and Gas Board ofAlabama. “At the record rate, the well was opened about 50% andmaintained a flowing pressure of 2,914 psi. The new well’s abilityto produce large volumes of gas substantially increases the gasdeliverability capacity of the Mobile Bay area, furthercontributing to long-term gas supplies,” he added.

Exxon now has completed 15 wells in four offshore fields locatedin Alabama state waters. During 1998, Exxon produced 144.5 Bcf ofgas from these wells, accounting for about 65% of Alabama’soffshore production. Alabama currently ranks ninth in the nation ingas production and more than half of the production comes fromwells located offshore in state waters.

Exxon spokesman Bob Davis said the well will add substantiallyto Exxon’s Mobile Bay production total in 1998. About 110 MMcf/d ofgas currently is being produced from the development well and isflowing into Koch Gateway, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line andFlorida Gas Transmission from Exxon’s Mobile Bay processing plant.Exxon produced 841 MMcf/d of gas in the Gulf of Mexico last yearand 2.1 Bcf/d in the entire U.S.

Rocco Canonica

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