Deepwater Gulf of Mexico 2004: America's Expanding ... - OCS BBS

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deepwater plays in the GOM, the Mississippi Fan Foldbelt and the Perdido Foldbelt, which include reservoirs of Paleogene age. Announced discoveries in the Alaminos Canyon area (Trident and Great White) and in the Walker Ridge area (St. Malo, Cascade, and Chinook) provide evidence of productive Paleogene reservoirs in a wide area of the deepwater GOM. However, many important questions remain concerning the extent and producibility of these older reservoirs. Figure 6 also shows a composite outline of numerous plays in the Eastern GOM; these range in age from Pleistocene through Jurassic. Successful exploration has occurred in the Eastern GOM with announced discoveries in DeSoto Canyon (Spiderman/Amazon), in Lloyd Ridge (Atlas), and in Atwater Valley (Jubilee). Although not a geologic play, the ultra-deepwater areas of the GOM can also be considered “frontier territory.” During the last three years there have been 11 industry-announced discoveries in water depths greater than 7,000 ft (2,134 m) (table 1). Announced volumes for these discoveries are more than 1.75 billion BOE. Table 1 List of Deepwater Discoveries in Water Depths Greater than 7,000 ft (2,134 m) Project Name Area/Block Water Depth (ft) Discovery Year Aconcagua MC 305 7,379 1999 Camden Hills MC 348 7,530 1999 Blind Faith MC 696 7,116 2001 Merganser AT 37 8,064 2001 St. Malo WR 678 7,326 2001 Trident AC 903 9,816 2001 Cascade WR 206 8,143 2002 Great White AC 857 7,425 2002 Vortex AT 261 8,422 2002 Atlas LL 50 9,180 2003 Chinook WR 469 9,104 2003 Jubilee AT 349 8,891 2003 Spiderman/Amazon DC 621 8,100 2003 AC = Alaminos Canyon AT = Atwater Valley DC = DeSoto Canyon LL = Lloyd Ridge MC = Mississippi Canyon WR = Walker Ridge In summary, the presence of pre-Miocene reservoirs, successes in the Eastern GOM sale area, and significant discoveries in the ultra-deepwater demonstrate the continuing exploration potential in the deepwater GOM. These new plays are large in areal extent, have multiple opportunities, and contain potentially huge traps with the possibility of billions of barrels of hydrocarbons. 12
In addition to the traditional oil and gas plays in the deepwater GOM, there may be significant resources in gas hydrates (figure 7). These resources may be 30 to 300 times greater than conventional oil and gas reserves. A gas hydrate is a cage-like lattice of ice that traps molecules of natural gas, primarily methane. Hydrates are formed near the seafloor under conditions of low temperature, high pressure, and in the presence of natural gas. In the GOM, hydrates occur in water depths greater than 1,450 ft (442 m). Each cubic foot of hydrate yields approximately 160 ft 3 of gas at standard temperature and pressure. Piston cores have sampled about 100 sites that contain both thermogenic and biogenic gas hydrates. Thermogenic gas hydrates are known only in the GOM, whereas biogenic gas hydrates are found in other marine settings around the world. Thermogenic gas hydrates are derived from deeply buried, organic-rich sediments or existing gas reservoirs and contain a mixture of complex hydrocarbon gases. Biogenic gas hydrates are generated at shallow depths by bacterial decomposition of organic matter, yielding primarily methane gas. Gas-hydrate mounds (figure 8) and associated chemosynthetic communities, commonly at the edges of deepwater mini-basins, have been sampled and observed by research submersibles at many sites in the GOM. There are many unanswered questions about the distribution, concentration, reservoir properties, and stability of hydrates. Conventional drilling operations do not allow sampling of the upper 3,000 ft (914 m) of sediment (where hydrates occur). Although conventional 3-D exploration and high-resolution seismic data are not specifically designed to detect hydrate deposits, interpretive techniques have been used to delineate possible hydrates. To gather hydrate data, a joint effort by MMS, Department of Energy (DOE), and seven oil and service companies will begin in 2004. Approximately eight 1,000- to 2,000-ft (305- to 610-m) deep wells will be drilled, logged, and cored through bedded hydrates near seafloor hydrate mounds in Atwater Valley and Keathley Canyon. This project will allow the first calibration of geophysical data for characterizing buried gas hydrates in the GOM. The MMS is developing a gashydrate assessment model and will complete an initial inventory of the amount of recoverable hydrates in 2005. LEASING ACTIVITY The DWRRA encouraged extensive leasing in the deepwater GOM. Figure 9 shows the recent history of deepwater leasing. Activity slowly increased from 1992 through 1995, but immediately after the DWRRA was enacted, deepwater leasing activity exploded. Other factors also contributed to this activity, including improved 3-D seismic data coverage, several key deepwater discoveries, the recognition of high deepwater production rates, and the evolution of deepwater development technologies. The GOM leasing status is shown in figure 10. There are about 3,600 active leases in water depths less than 1,000 ft (305 m), about 150 active leases in 1,000-1,499 ft (305-457 m) of water, about 1,800 active leases in 1,500-4,999 ft (457-1,524 m) of water, about 1,500 active leases in 5,000-7,499 ft (1,524-2,286 m) of water, and about 750 active leases in water depths of 7,500 ft (2,286 m) and greater. The limited number of active leases in the eastern GOM is related to leasing restrictions. In 2001 and 2003, sales were held offshore of Alabama, approximately 100 miles from the coastline, which added 109 active leases. Appendix C provides a chronological listing of all Gulf of Mexico lease offerings arranged by sale number, location, and date. Figure 11 shows the historic total active leasing trends by water-depth range. Notice the dramatic increase in active deepwater leases from 1995 through 1998. In 1999, the number of active deepwater leases surpassed that of shallow-water leases. Operators contend with numerous obstacles when venturing into the deepwater arena. Figure 12 illustrates natural features and manmade zones that require special considerations for oil and gas activities. Although the topographic features are located primarily along the shelf break, they may be obstacles to pipelines from deepwater developments to the shelf infrastructure. 13
Page 2 and 3: ON COVER - The cover features four
Page 5 and 6: Table of Contents Page PREFACE.....
Page 7 and 8: Figures Page Figure 1. The Gulf of
Page 9 and 10: Figures — continued Page Figure 5
Page 11: Tables Page Table 1 List of Deepwat
Page 15 and 16: INTRODUCTION The deepwater Gulf of
Page 17 and 18: BACKGROUND DEFINITIONS The GOM Oute
Page 19 and 20: EXPANDING FRONTIER When the origina
Page 21 and 22: 1992 - 1993 Louisiana Mississippi A
Page 23 and 24: 1992 - 2003 Texas Louisiana Mississ
Page 25: fffffffffffffffff 1500 ft Quaternar
Page 29 and 30: 15 Figure 8. Gas hydrates on the se
Page 33 and 34: 4,500 4,000 Number of Active Leases
Page 35 and 36: ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITY The extensiv
Page 37 and 38: Operators submit a remotely operate
Page 39 and 40: 25 Figure 15. Loop and eddy current
Page 43 and 44: 29 Deepwater Discoveries $ #Y Texas
Page 45 and 46: 31 Texas ð PORT ARANSAS 1000 ft 15
Page 47 and 48: Louisiana Mississippi Alabama 33 Te
Page 49 and 50: Pipelines New pipelines Proposed pi
Page 51 and 52: LEASING Until the mid-1990's, leasi
Page 53 and 54: Number of Leases Bid On 600 500 400
Page 59 and 60: 2004 - 2005 (741 leases) Louisiana
Page 61 and 62: DRILLING AND DEVELOPMENT Deepwater
Page 63 and 64: 49 Figure 30. The Discoverer Deep S
Page 65 and 66: 51 Number of Wells Spudded 250 200
Page 67 and 68: 120 > 7,500 ft 107 108 100 5,000 -
Page 73 and 74: 180 160 Deepwater EP Deepwater DOCD
Page 75 and 76: 340 626 390 472 472 456 393 475 590
Page 77 and 78:
Year of First Production Table 4 De
Page 79 and 80:
Year of First Production Table 4 De
Page 81 and 82:
A predominant workhorse of the GOM
Page 83 and 84:
3 Number Installed 2 1 0 2004 69 TL
Page 85 and 86:
Flow lines to host platform Subsea
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140 131 120 100 78 Number of Wells
Page 89 and 90:
RESERVES AND PRODUCTION The deepwat
Page 91 and 92:
77 Million Barrels of Oil Equivalen
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18 16 14 12 10 8 Number of Fields 6
Page 95 and 96:
81 Million Barrels of Oil Equivalen
Page 97 and 98:
45,000 40,000 Million Barrels Oil E
Page 99 and 100:
1992-1993 1994-1995 1996-1997 Lease
Page 101 and 102:
S hallo w- wa ter GOM 11% Deepwater
Page 103 and 104:
1,200,000 1,000,000 Total productio
Page 105 and 106:
1,100,000 1,000,000 Subsea oil Tota
Page 107 and 108:
900,000 800,000 Majors Nonmajors 70
Page 109 and 110:
45,000 40,000 Max oil rate 1,000-1,
Page 111 and 112:
4,000 3,500 Shallow water Deepwater
Page 113 and 114:
Texas Auger Louisiana SS182 Troika
Page 115 and 116:
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS This report
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2,500 Number of leases Average U.S.
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Number of Years 14 12 leas es in p
Page 121 and 122:
data for this analysis include only
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80 2500 70 60 Number of leases dril
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4,500 4,000 3,500 Leases tested Lea
Page 127:
• Nonmajor companies have made mo
Page 131:
REFERENCES Bascle, B. J., L. D. Nix
Page 134 and 135:
Project Name Area/Block Water Depth
Page 136 and 137:
Page 138 and 139:
Page 140 and 141:
Page 142 and 143:
Page 144 and 145:
Page 146 and 147:
Sale Number Sale Location Sale Date
Page 148 and 149:
Completed Studies [MMS Study Number
Page 150 and 151:
Group Name Company Name MMS Number
Page 152 and 153:
Group Name Company Name MMS Number
Page 154 and 155:
Appendix G. Subsea Completions. Are
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Area Block API Number Operator Comp
Page 158 and 159:
Area Block API Number Operator 144
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Page 162 and 163:
Page 164 and 165:
Year Shallowwater Oil (MBOPD) Deepw
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Deepwater Gulf of Mexico 2004: America's Expanding ... - OCS BBS

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