Anadarko extends pay zone at well offshore Louisiana

Sub-salt play at Hickory field to come on production from new platform by end of year, producing both oil and gas

Petroleum News Alaska

Anadarko Petroleum Corp., with partners Shell and Ocean Energy Inc., said March 22 that they have successfully completed drilling operations to more than 18,000 feet on a field development/delineation well at the 1998 Hickory discovery and plan to drill an additional 2,400 feet.

Anadarko said the Grand Isle Block 116 No. 2 well, offshore Louisiana, encountered main field pay zones downdip of the original discovery well about a mile to the north. Goal of the additional drilling is to extend the lower limits of additional pay intervals.

A separate exploration well will be drilled on Grand Isle Block 111 once work on Block 116 is complete.

The Transocean 96 semi-submersible rig penetrated a section of salt more than 8,000 feet thick in the No. 2 well, and Anadarko said it believes this is one of the thickest ever drilled in the Gulf of Mexico.

John Seitz, Anadarko president and chief operating officer, said the company was pleased with the 38-day drilling time: “This well was drilled in about half the time and at half the cost of what we expected.” Seitz attributed the drilling time to the company’s sub-salt knowledge and experience, particularly in drill bit and mud technology.

The company also said it had applied its expertise in sub-salt directional drilling, which it said is viewed by the industry as a major challenge of the play.

Production by end of year

Anadarko, the field operator, owns a 50 percent working interest in Grand Isle blocks 110, 111 and 116. Shell has a 37.5 percent working interest in the blocks; Ocean Energy has 12.5 percent.