Deepwater

Saying they have put last year’s Gulf of Mexico (GOM) deepwater well blowout behind them, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. senior officials last week tried to look past third quarter red ink to what they consider hot domestic shale and African liquefied natural gas (LNG) prospects.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. officials see the Macondo deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM) well blowout from last year as no longer a threat to the company’s future earnings results as it was in the recently completed third quarter. A $4 billion settlement with BP plc has resolved all of the major pending litigation involving Anadarko.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp., which was a 25% owner of the doomed Macondo well in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, has agreed to pay BP plc $4 billion to settle claims relating to last year’s well blowout and oil spill and will no longer pursue claims of gross negligence against the oil major. The settlement, which BP said was not an admission of liability, ends a dispute with Anadarko about how to divvy up responsibility to compensate those affected by the tragedy. In May a unit of Mitsui Ltd., which owned a 10% stake in the BP-operated well, agreed to pay nearly $1.07 billion for related damages (see NGI, May 23). Under terms of the settlement, Anadarko agreed to transfer its stake in the Macondo well back to BP, and BP agreed to indemnify Anadarko for some claims, excluding the civil, criminal and administrative fines and potential claims for punitive damages.

Mexico national oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) said Wednesday it has drilled the deepest well in its history at the deepwater Lakach field in the Gulf of Mexico, and estimates the field may contain 400 to 600 Bcf in gas and condensates.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp., whose extensive Gulf of Mexico (GOM) operations were slammed by the deepwater drilling moratorium, dusted itself off in the first quarter and produced record sales volumes from its U.S. onshore and overseas operations.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp., whose extensive Gulf of Mexico (GOM) operations were slammed by the deepwater drilling moratorium, dusted itself off in the first quarter and on Tuesday reported record sales volumes from its U.S. onshore and overseas operations.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEM) issued its ninth permit for drilling in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico — this time to Murphy Exploration & Production Co. to drill well No. A008 in Green Canyon Block 338 in 3,325 feet of water, 170 miles southwest of New Orleans. Murphy’s well No. A008 is a sidetrack well, which will be drilled to a new geologic target or a new location within the original target from the existing wellbore, according to BOEM. The operator had a rig on location when drilling activities in the Gulf were suspended following the blowout of BP plc’s Macondo well. Murphy has contracted with Helix Well Containment Group to stop the flow of oil in the event of a blowout.

The Louisiana congressional delegation led by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) has called on President Obama to put an end to the de facto moratorium in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

The Louisiana congressional delegation led by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) has called on President Obama to put an end to the de facto moratorium in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.