Drilling on the BP-operated deepwater Bright prospect in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico ended in disappointment for the U.K. major and its partner Noble Energy after being drilled to a total depth of 4,115 m (13,500 ft).

Partner Noble said that the Bright well in Atwater Valley Block 362 had targeted Upper and Middle Miocene horizons but did not find hydrocarbons, with the well now plugged and abandoned.

Further results are still being awaited by Noble from other GoM wells on the Katmai and Dantzler prospects later this month.

The Bright well was drilled by the Ensco DS 4 rig in a water depth of 1,703 m (5,586 ft), with BP holding 50% and Noble the other half.