Exxonmobil makes major discoveries in Gulf of Mexico

Exxon Mobil Corporation today announced two major oil discoveries and a gas discovery in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico after drilling the company's first deepwater exploration well since the drilling moratorium was lifted.

The KC919-3 wildcat well confirmed the presence of a second oil accumulation in Keathley Canyon block 919. The well encountered more than 475 ft of net oil pay and a minor amount of gas in predominantly Pliocene high-quality sandstone reservoirs. The well, which is continuing to drill deeper, is located 250 miles southwest of New Orleans in approximately 7000 ft of water.

Drilling in early 2010 encountered oil and natural gas at Hadrian North in KC919 and extending into KC918, with over 550 ft of net oil pay and a minor amount of gas in high-quality Pliocene and Upper Miocene sandstone reservoirs.

ExxonMobil encountered 200 ft of natural gas pay in Pliocene sandstone reservoirs at its Hadrian South prospect in Keathley Canyon block 964 during drilling in 2009.

“We estimate a recoverable resource of more than 700 million barrels of oil equivalent combined in our Keathley Canyon blocks,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company. "This is one of the largest discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico in the last decade. More than 85 percent of the resource is oil with additional upside potential."

ExxonMobil is the operator of KC918, KC919, KC963 and KC964 with 50% working interest. Eni Petroleum US LLC and Petrobras America Inc. each hold a 25% working interest in KC919, KC963 and KC964. Petrobras America Inc. holds a 50% working interest in KC918.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/exploration/09062011/exxonmobil_makes_major_discoveries_in_gulf_of_mexico/