Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Harold5011 on April 7, 2009 at 2:30

From last week’s the Weil energy conference -other than JB's comments that there are going to be some ultra-deep Wilcox wells drilled in the Gulf (and that 12 prospects "ready-to-drill"), here's the significant news:

That the #232 is going to produce 70,000,000 to 75,000,000 cfge/day, bringing the field up to 300,000,000 cfge/day. I was disappointed that its not going to be a 100,000,000 cfge/day well, but you have the take the good with the bad. But since there’s no decline cure, what the heck.

Also that the Blueberry Hill well is "up-next".

One last thing I gathered from JB’s comments is that the Wilcox, Frio and Hackberry would be at ultra deep depths below the Big Blue Fault in the shallow shelf, and that no one could see this before because of seismic imaging limitations - or that a mountain sometimes got in the way.

Its going to get interesting once the five deepwater rigs with 40,000' to 45,000' depth capabilities are delivered. Exxon just reentered the play in a big way. Stay tuned.

landownerPermalink Reply by Jack Blake on April 7, 2009 at 14:37

I been offshore for 30 years. Deepest well I've seen was about 30,000'. Most are 9,000' to 14,000' in the areas of the Gulf I have worked in. When they do drill or attempt to drill the 30,000' wells they are going after "deep gas". Jack Blake has spoken

Permalink Reply by Harold5011 on April 7, 2009 at 16:52

Actually, MMR is looking to produce anything they find, but many think they have an extraordinarily deep oil well. MMR calls it potential hydrocarbon bearing zones.

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2008/06/mcmoran_exploration_...

They are at 32,997 I think. Check out slides 18 & 19 on the below website. Deepest well ever drilled below the mudline of Gulf. Exxon put $150 million in this well before they gave up. Then it was re-entered.

http://www.mcmoran.com/presentatn/2009/Howard%20Weil_MAR09.pdf

Slides 22, 23 & 24 are something else altogether.

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Permalink Reply by Larry T on April 7, 2009 at 19:54

Jack,

Sorry but 25000 to 35000' is common deepwater drilling depths now. Water depths from 2500 to 10000'. you are quite correct in your comments concerning shelf work or shallow water floaters. Some are gas but oil is the main target as not as much infrastructure needed. Most of the new builds will be drilling these sub salt or very close to the salt, which is very difficult due to young formations. Some of these wells will be over $100m, cost. Daily spread cost are around $1m.

Larry T

landownerPermalink Reply by Jack Blake on April 9, 2009 at 10:38

Yeah I was talking shallow water shelf stuff. Never had the opportunity to work in deepwater.
Long live the Haynesville Shale!!!!!!!!!!

Permalink Reply by Harold5011 on April 8, 2009 at 4:10

The new super-rigs that are on their way can drill to those obsurdly deep deapths in 8 or 10 thousand feet of water, meaning that there is no place in the gulf they counldn't drill due to the capabilities of the rig. I also understand that at least one of these super-rigs (that is scheduled for delivery) is being built in China, of all places.

Right now the world's deepest well was the one in the Kola Peninsula near Norway - it was drilled to 40,230' and it took 20 years to drill. That's the one that was shut down due to the crying and screaming. And to think that in the not too distanct future we'll be able to drill right through that depth while standing in 8,000' of water and in a matter of months.

Permalink Reply by Harold5011 on April 9, 2009 at 13:49

The SS Frigstad Oslo (which is supposed to be delivered in Sept-09) will be able to drill to 50,000' in 10,000' ft. of water.

landownerPermalink Reply by Lee Wise on April 9, 2009 at 16:21

The Ocean Confidence, owned by Diamond Offshore has successfully drilled a well in 10,143' of water in the G.O.M. as of last year. It is in the process of being modified to continue to perform at these depths.

Permalink Reply by wpt9452 on April 9, 2009 at 17:53

Oh Please, the Kola Peninsula was stopped due to lack of funds during the Soviet Union era. They managed to drill that deep by using rotating mud to turn to pipe. No screaming voices were heard and they even found traces of water in the rocks. Google it, it's an interesting read.

Permalink Reply by Harold5011 on April 10, 2009 at 9:17

"No, actually, in this case I think we started hearing cries for help from the suffering souls at about the $26 level...."