Anadarko hits pay in Eastern Gulf

Petroleum News

Anadarko Petroleum has made a fourth gas discovery in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico at its Atlas NW prospect, Jim Emme, Anadarko’s vice president of exploration and business development, said Jan. 30.

Emme said the exploration well was drilled to a total depth of 16,800 feet on Lloyd Ridge Block 5 and encountered 50 feet of net pay in two middle Miocene intervals. While reserve estimates were not disclosed, Atlas NW is expected to be developed as a satellite, the company said.

Anadarko and other producers in the Eastern Gulf are considering a hub or central processing facility to handle a number of gas discoveries in the area. In addition to Atlas NW, other Anadarko discoveries that could be included in a hub are Atlas, Jubilee and Spiderman.

Emme said Anadarko plans to start booking reserves in the Eastern Gulf and appears confident a development plan for the region would be in place by year-end. Anadarko also may drill another well at Jubilee and possibly another at the Atlas-Mondo complex. The 100 percent Anadarko owned Atlas NW discovery was drilled from Transocean’s Deepwater Millennium drillship.