ChevronTexaco, Devon, EnCana announce discovery

ChevronTexaco announced a new deepwater oil discovery at the Sturgis prospect located in the Gulf of Mexico, 150 miles southeast of New Orleans in Atwater Valley block 183.

The company said the Sturgis No. 1 well is in approximately 3,700 feet of water and was drilled to a depth of 25,005 feet on July 1, using the Glomar Explorer drilling vessel.

Drillers encountered more than 100 feet of net pay sands. A subsequent side-track was drilled to a depth of 27,739 feet.

Chevron Texaco said further appraisal drilling is planned at Sturgis.ChevronTexaco is the operator of the prospect with a 50 percent working interest; independents Devon Energy and EnCana Gulf of Mexico each have 25 percent.

“This discovery is the first in our promising joint venture with ChevronTexaco,” J. Michael Lacey, senior vice president of exploration and production for Devon, said. “We are committed to drill two additional exploratory wells in the joint venture, which will earn us interests in 71 exploratory blocks in the deepwater Gulf.”

ChevronTexaco Vice President Kathleen Arthur credited the company’s success in the deepwater to “innovative seismic techniques and using the latest technology to safely drill and produce.”