Chevron, Total announce Ballymore oil discovery in Gulf of Mexico

Oil and gas news : Chevron and Total have pulled off a major oil discovery in the Ballymore prospect in the US Gulf of Mexico following its drilling.

The partners said that the Ballymore well had encountered 205 meters of net oil pay in a high quality Norphlet reservoir, after it was drilled by Pacific Drilling’s Sharav drillship to a final depth of 8,898 meters.

The Ballymore prospect is located in Mississippi Canyon, at a water depth of 2,000 meters. Situated about 120 kilometers from the Louisiana coast, the Ballymore prospect spans four blocks in the Norphlet play, and it was the Block MC 607 where the oil discovery was made by Chevron and Total.

While Chevron through its subsidiary Chevron U.S.A is the operator of the Ballymore prospect with a 60% stake, Total via its subsidiary Total E&P USA had entered into the oil field with a stake of 40% through a deal made in September 2017.

Pacific Drilling’s Sharav drillship was used for the drilling of the Ballymore prospect where the Ballymore oil discovery was made. Photo courtesy of Chevron Corporation.

The Ballymore oil discovery is expected to bolster Chevron’s place in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico as it is only 4.8 kilometers away from its Blind Faith platform which has been in production since November 2008.

Commenting on the Ballymore oil discovery, Jeff Shellebarger – President of Chevron North America Exploration and Production, said: “The Gulf of Mexico deepwater is an integral part of our company’s long-term strategy. This discovery is an important addition to our portfolio, especially with its combination of size, quality and proximity to existing infrastructure.”

For Total, Ballymore is its largest discovery in the Gulf of Mexico till date. The Ballymore oil discovery will give the French oil and gas company entry to the Norphlet play in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico (GoM), which has been mainly known so far for the Appomatox oil discovery.

Chevron and Total said that a sidetrack well is being drilled to confirm the upside potential of the Ballymore oil discovery.

Arnaud Breuillac – President of Total Exploration & Production, commenting on the Ballymore oil discovery, said: “This major discovery gives us access to large oil resources and follow on potential in the emerging Norphlet play. It also demonstrates all the interest of Total’s GoM farm-in agreement with Chevron, where we acquired a 40% interest in Ballymore.

“While already deemed commercially viable, we will work together on the appraisal of this discovery and a cost-effective scheme to ensure a rapid, low breakeven development.”

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