Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NBL) has announced final well results at the Katmai exploration well and the Dantzler appraisal well in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
At Katmai, wireline logging data indicates a total of 154 net feet of crude oil pay was discovered in multiple reservoirs, including 117 net feet in Middle Miocene and 37 net feet in Lower Miocene reservoirs. The discovery well, located in Green Canyon 40, was drilled to a total depth of 27,900 feet in 2,100 feet of water. Total gross resources(1) at Katmai are now estimated at between 40 and 100 million barrels of oil equivalent, including 40 to 60 million barrels of oil equivalent discovered from this initial well. Additional exploration and appraisal drilling will be required to test the remaining upside potential.
The Dantzler-2 appraisal well, located in Mississippi Canyon 782, encountered 122 net feet of crude oil pay in two high-quality Miocene reservoirs. The well was drilled to a total depth of 18,210 feet in 6,600 feet of water. Gross resources(1) at Dantzler have increased to between 65 and 100 million barrels of oil equivalent. Dantzler has been incorporated into the Company's plans in the Rio Grande development area, which also includes discoveries at Big Bend and Troubadour. The Rio Grande development remains on schedule, with first production from Big Bend expected in the fourth quarter of 2015 and Dantzler in the first quarter of 2016.
Susan M. Cunningham, Senior Vice President, Gulf of Mexico, West Africa, and Frontier, said, "The results at Katmai and Dantzler highlight Noble Energy's successful deepwater Gulf of Mexico program, which will contribute significant production and cash flow growth in the coming years. What we discovered at Katmai represents another commercial discovery in the Miocene trend and de-risks nearby prospects in the Company's Aleutians area. Our appraisal program at Dantzler has exceeded our expectations and enhances the value of the development."
Noble Energy operates Katmai with a 50 percent working interest. Ridgewood Energy Corporation holds the remaining 50 percent working interest.
At Dantzler, the rig has started well completion operations on Dantzler-2 and will then complete the Dantzler-1 discovery well. Noble Energy operates Dantzler with a 45 percent working interest. Additional interest owners are entities managed by Ridgewood Energy Corporation (including ILX Holdings II, LLC a portfolio company of Riverstone Holdings, LLC) with 35 percent and W&T Energy VI, LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of W&T Offshore Inc.) with 20 percent.
(1) Range of resource estimate based on 75th and 25th percentile probabilities
