OK, but before everyone gets too excited I have to point out - unfortunately - that this is an offshore field in Brazil and not here in E.Texas or Louisiana....
There is no hard and fast depth limitation on the oil window, the controlling factors are heat and pressure, Granted that at these depths, in most cases, the pressures and temperatures are to great for oil to exist. The one exception is where the temperatures are dissipated by salt overlayment and in particular where salt is fractured and folded extensively, as in the case of Chevrons Tiber at 31,000. Just because this discovery is in 4,000 ft+ of Gulf water does not mean that the water is cooling it down. The primary coolant in that case is the salt which all but surrounds the oil bearing formation, due to the above mentioned faulting and folding of the salt.
I think the real question, which others and I have asked on this post, is what are CHK, XTQ, EOG, Devon and Marathon looking for below 17,500 plus feet in Shelby Cty. I know of at least six wells permitted at these depths. I personally feel oil is completely out of the question but I wish we could have a reasonable discussion on this question. Any geologists out there wish to elaborate. Please, no deniers of the vertical depths permitted as we are not in Louisiana but in Texas.
Are there recent examples of wells permitted to or below 17,500' that actually drilled to that depth? Or were they simply "permitted" to that depth? Just to be clear, we are talking TVD.
Perhaps Jffree1 has some data on other wells that have already been drilled to those verticle depths.
There are a few recently approved permits, that are currently drilling so hopefully there might be some info released and or leaked after those completions:
permit states they are first drilling a verticle/pilot hole to 18.500 for logging/test purposes but they will then complete as a Haynesville horizontal
D. jffree1 maintains the most accurate and up to date database focusing on E. TX. that I am aware of. And the correct member to ask for input on this question.
D. I see nothing in the permit that establishes the deepest depth actually drilled. Is there an additional report (like a SONRIS Well Scout) available from the TRRC that states that information definitely?
I do not have that info, but am hoping that someone else reading here might point to where that might be available, or perhaps have had seen the logs....