SOUTH LOUISIANA – TODAY AND TOMORROW

By Donald W. Frye and Gar C. Willis

 

Over the past decade there have been many Miocene Cristellaria I and Cibicides opima discoveries resulting from integration of detailed geology and advanced geophysical techniques. These discoveries, typically in a depth range of 13000 to 15000 ft are in a geopressured environment, have excellent productive capabilities, high liquid content and can pay out in a few months. Many are a so called AVO class 2 with a complete phase reversal from wet sand to pay. This phase reversal complicates the interpretation due to the effect on apparent dip and observed amplitudes can vary, with tuning providing the highest amplitudes in the 70 to 110 ft pay thickness range

 

In the same general area there have been a number of deeper discoveries. These are typically in excess of 18000 ft. but still have excellent sand quality and have proven capability. An example is the UPR/Cabot Etouffee find that has produced 25 MMbls and  over 100 Bcf from a few hundred acres. A large recent discovery at 15000 ft. is Contango’s Eugene Island Block 10 with 150 ft. of pay in the first well and with additional wells is now producing well over 100 MMcfde. McMoran’s Flatrock production in South Marsh Island 212/217 has 6 successful wells as of late 2009 with more than 250 ft. of pay in some of the wells. Production is over 200 MMcfde. The McMoran Davy Jones discovery at 29000 ft adds a new dimension to the hunt. The production capability of the ultra deep pays is unproven, but there is ample evidence for excellent sand quality below 20000 ft.

 

The authors will discuss a number of the discoveries with the techniques and procedures used and our view of future exploration in the area going into even deeper targets where there are a large number of untested structures.