BP announces oil discovery in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico

HOUSTON — BP announced today an oil discovery at the Guadalupe prospect in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
The discovery well, on Keathley Canyon Block 10, was drilled by operator Chevron on behalf of the Guadalupe co-owners, a news release said. The well encountered significant oil pay in Paleogene age Wilcox Sands, it said.
The well is about 180 miles off the Louisiana coast in 3,992 feet of water and was drilled to a depth of 30,173 feet, the company said.
BP said more tests are being conducted on the well and additional appraisal activity will be needed to determine the extent of the resource.
BP said the Guadalupe co-owners are BP Exploration & Production Inc. with a 42.5 percent working interest; Chevron USA Inc. (operator), 42.5 percent; and Venari Resources LLC, 15 percent.
BP has previously made three discoveries in the emerging Paleogene trend in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico: Gila in 2013, Tiber in 2009 and Kaskida in 2006, the company said.
Richard Morrison, regional president of BP’s Gulf of Mexico business, said, “BP is pleased to be a part of another discovery in the Paleogene trend, an area of increasing importance to the future of the Gulf of Mexico and to America’s energy security.”
Morrison added, “This again highlights BP’s strength in exploration and our commitment to the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico.”
BP is a leading oil and gas producer in the U.S. deepwater Gulf of Mexico and has been the largest investor in the region over the last 10 years, it said. BP said it is also the leading leaseholder in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. BP directly employs more than 2,300 people in its Gulf of Mexico business, the news release said.