A discovery well has been drilled by Noble Energy on its Troubadour prospect in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, with the find set to be developed via a subsea tieback to one of several nearby production hubs, while also raising the operator’s expectations of oil reserves in the area.

Troubadour is located in the Big Bend/Troubadour ‘Rio Grande’ area, and sits in 2,217 m (7,273 ft) in Mississippi Canyon Block 699. The well was drilled to a total depth of 5,947 m (19,510 ft), with reservoir and fluid measurement logs identifying approximately 15 m (50 ft) of net natural gas pay in a high-quality Miocene reservoir.

Susan Cunningham, Noble’s senior vice president, GoM, West Africa and Frontier Ventures, said: “The discovery at Troubadour follows on our earlier exploration success at Big Bend, which combine to provide another significant development opportunity for our Gulf of Mexico business. Results from the well have provided critical new information that indicates a greater than previously predicted oil recovery in the Rio Grande complex.

“Discovered gross resources in this area are now estimated at between 50 and 100 MMboe, with 75% representing oil volumes. We are moving forward our development planning as subsea tiebacks to an existing host facility. Initial project sanction is targeted by the end of this year and first production is planned toward the end of 2015.”

The discovery well is being temporarily abandoned for future development, it added. Following completion of operations at Troubadour, Noble plans to move the rig to the Dantzler prospect in MC 738/782. It operates Dantzler with a 65% participating interest and is targeting a resource range of between 50 and 220 MMboe gross. Results are anticipated by the end of this year.

Noble operates Big Bend with a 54% interest and Troubadour with a 60% interest. Partners at Big Bend include Red Willow Offshore, LLC (15.4%), Houston Energy Deepwater Ventures V, LLC (10.6%) and W&T Energy VI, LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary of W&T Offshore Inc.) with 20%. W&T Energy VI, LLC and Deep Gulf Energy II, LLC participate in Troubadour with 20% each.

Offshore