Deepwater

Less than a year after its discovery, the Geauxpher Field in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is producing 115 MMcf/d of natural gas from two wells, according to operator Mariner Energy Inc. The project, located in Garden Banks Block 462 more than 150 miles offshore Louisiana, was discovered in mid 2008. The development’s wells are connected via a 40-mile subsea tieback to a third party-operated platform on Garden Banks Block 72. After processing the gas is transported via pipeline to onshore facilities. Production from the wells to pressurize the flowline to the platform began in April, and sales began May 15. Geauxpher is 60% owned by Mariner; Apache Corp. owns the remaining stake. In another joint venture with Apache, Mariner is drilling an exploration well on the Arden prospect on Garden Banks Block 949. Mariner operates the Arden prospect, which is expected to reach its targeted depth over the next two to three months. The companies each hold 50% working interests in the prospect.

Excelerate Energy LLC’s Energy Bridge regasification vessel Explorer completed the discharge of its cargo through the company’s Northeast Gateway Deepwater Port, approximately 13 miles offshore Boston, Excelerate said Tuesday.

Apache Corp. said the Ewing Banks 998 No.1 discovery well in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico test flowed at 5.4 MMcf/d of natural gas and 4,254 b/d of oil. The well is to be connected to existing facilities using a subsea tieback with first production expected in early 2010. Apache owns a half stake in the discovery, which is located about 150 miles southwest of New Orleans in water about 1,000 feet deep. Walter Oil & Gas Corp. is the operator of the well and owns the remaining 50% stake. The well was drilled to a measured depth of 14,538 feet and tested on an interval between 14,352 feet and 14,400 feet. Apache has completed eight wells at Ewing Banks 826 and increased production to a current rate of 12.9 MMcf/d and 5,300 b/d from a 2007 rate of 700 boe/d. Apache owns a 100% working interest in the Ewing Banks block.

GE Energy Financial Services has agreed to invest $150 million in a partnership with ATP Oil & Gas Corp. to expand the producer’s floating natural gas and oil production unit in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

Two deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM) development projects, Droshky and Ozona, which initially may book a total of 29 million boe of natural gas and oil proved reserves, will move forward following approval by Marathon Oil Corp.

Independence Hub in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico is back up to moving 900 MMcf/d after an extended outage that was duly noted by the gas market. Anadarko Petroleum Corp. said last Monday that repairs to the Independence Trail pipeline and subsequent testing were successful.

Thunder Horse, considered the world’s largest semisubmersible platform, has begun production in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM) from a single well and is on track to be fully commissioned before the end of 2008 following a three-year delay. The platform is jointly owned by BP plc, with a 75% stake, and ExxonMobil Corp., which holds 25%. Located 150 miles southeast of New Orleans on Mississippi Canyon Blocks 778 and 822, Thunder Horse is expected to be the largest oil and gas producer in the GOM once it begins full production. At full capacity, Thunder Horse would increase overall U.S. oil and gas output by 3.6%. Thunder Horse was to begin operations in 2005 and produce up to 250,000 b/d of oil and 200 MMcf/d of natural gas. However, the BP-operated facility has suffered from a series of natural and man-made delays. After Hurricane Dennis struck the platform in 2005, the platform was found listing 20 degrees, and BP said then it was unlikely that commercial production would begin before the end of 2005 (see NGI, Aug. 1, 2005). Following hurricanes Katrina and Rita, also in 2005, the Thunder Horse ramp-up timetable was again revised; production was set to begin by mid-2006 (see NGI, Dec. 5, 2005). A year later BP said it would “retrieve and rebuild” all of the seabed production equipment from the Thunder Horse field, and the start-up was pushed to this year (see NGI, Sept. 25, 2006).

Thunder Horse, considered the world’s largest semisubmersible platform, has begun production in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM) from a single well and is on track to be fully commissioned before the end of 2008 following a three-year delay.

Independence Hub in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico is back up to moving 900 MMcf/d after an extended outage that was duly noted by the gas market. Anadarko Petroleum Corp. said Monday that repairs to the Independence Trail pipeline and subsequent testing were successful.