Fortuna Energy Inc. has drilled two successful Black River gas wells in the Appalachia, the first two operated wells of its recently acquired New York properties. The Talisman Energy Inc. subsidiary said the first well, Fortuna Ganung Hz, tested a non-producing structure in Schuyler County. Despite some operational problems, the well still tested at rates up to 2.4 MMcf/d, and plans are under way to tie the well into a local gathering system. The second well, Fortuna Konstantinedes Hz, was drilled in Chemung County. After completion, the well flowed at rates up to 10.4 MMcf/d and is currently shut-in for a pressure buildup test. Work is under way to have the well tied into the Columbia high-pressure transmission system by the end of the year. The third well, Hepfner, is currently drilling. Two additional rigs also are being mobilized, and a fourth well is expected to spud in September and another in mid-October. Additional projects under way include the installation of three compressors, all expected to be on stream by year’s end and the tie-in of the Fortuna Pace well, which should be on stream in early 2004 at a rate of 5 MMcf/d. Fortuna’s production in July was 67 MMcf/d, and it plans to spend US$46 million in the area in 2003, drilling eight wells.

ATP Oil & Gas Corp. has acquired Mississippi Canyon 711, an oil and gas discovery previously named Gomez. On Tuesday, ATP reported that it has acquired 99% of the working interest and is the operator of the oil and gas development with proved reserves located in approximately 3000 feet of water in the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico. The initial discovery well was drilled in 1997 by a company subsequently acquired by Anadarko Petroleum. In 2000, the discovery was confirmed by the MC 711 Well No. 4 and Well No. 4 ST. 1, which encountered 125 feet of oil and gas pay in a Lower Pliocene sand interval. ATP said it is currently evaluating the property, and expects to use a similar development plan to the one it used to successfully put on production its current deepwater project named Ladybug at Garden Banks 409. “With the Gomez acquisition of proved reserves, ATP continues its strategic growth in the Gulf of Mexico both on the shelf and in the deeper waters. ATP continues to use innovative deepwater subsea technologies to advance development opportunities both in the Gulf of Mexico and in the North Sea,” stated T. Paul Bulmahn, president of ATP.

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