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EXPANDING FRONTIER
It is instructive to look back to the earlier deepwater reports (figure 79) and observe the dramatic
increases in proved reserves and discovered volumes (which include proved and unproved reserves,
resources, and industry-announced discoveries).
Figure 79. Comparison of 2000, 2002, and 2004 deepwater GOM reports: successive increases
in deepwater BOE. (Click the image to enlarge)
Many of the discovered volumes in earlier reports have
progressed to become proved reserves in subsequent reports.
For example, in the last report, Thunder
Horse was in the discovered-volumes category, and in this report its volumes are classified as proved
reserves. While both proved reserves and discovered volumes have substantially increased from report to
report, the most dramatic increases have occurred in the discovered volumes.
This suggests a bright
outlook for future deepwater production, as the less constrained resource and industry-announced
volumes move into the reserve category and are produced.
The future of deepwater GOM exploration and production remains very promising. As shown in
figure 78, industry is nearing the end of the primary lease term of the exceptional number of leases
acquired in 1996 through 1998.
Traditional deepwater minibasin plays are far from mature, as several
recent discoveries attest, and new deepwater plays near and even beyond the Sigsbee Escarpment, beneath
thick salt canopies, and in lightly explored Paleogene reservoirs show that the deepwater GOM is an
expanding frontier.
As shown in figure 57, the immature deepwater creaming curve predicts that
numerous large undiscovered fields remain. The 2000 Assessment indicates that more than 50 billion
recoverable BOE remain to be discovered (Lore et al., 2001).
The deepwater arena has made great strides in the last few years, establishing itself as an expanding
frontier. The previous edition of this report (Baud et al., 2002) documented the advancements made in
deepwater exploration and development since 1974.
Several notable changes have occurred in the
deepwater GOM since the last report.
- The deepwater frontier is now in water depths greater than 7,000 ft (2,134 m).
- The first exploratory well was drilled in over 10,000-ft (3,048-m) water depth.
- The first deepwater well was drilled below 30,000-ft (9,144-m) depth (true vertical
depth).
- Eleven discoveries were found in over 7,000-ft (2,134-m) water depths.
- The deepest production increased from approximately 5,300-ft (1,615-m) water depth
(Mensa) to over 7,000-ft (2,134-m) water depth (Camden Hills).
- The first deepwater discoveries in the Eastern GOM were found.
- There were significant new discoveries in both Walker Ridge and Alaminos Canyon in
older, lightly tested Paleogene reservoirs.
- Industry has made great technological achievements (e.g., polyester mooring, composite
riser, cell spars, and 15,000-psi subsea trees).
- Loop currents have been recognized as posing significant design challenges for
deepwater structures, rigs, and pipelines.
- The average number of operating rigs is down 29 percent and the number of wells drilled
is down 37 percent.
- Average bid amounts per block have stabilized or decreased slightly.
- There was a 51 percent increase in the number of producing deepwater projects.
- Nonmajor companies have made more deepwater discoveries and hold more deepwater
acreage than the major companies.
- Deepwater production rose more than 100 MBOPD and 400 MMCFPD each year since
1997.
- Subsea gas production has increased 90 percent since December 2000.
Since the start of 2000, new deepwater drilling added over 4.5 billion BOE, a 40 percent increase over the
total deepwater BOE discovered from 1974 to 1999.
The deepwater GOM continues to increase in its importance to the Nation�s energy supply. The large
number of active deepwater leases, the drilling of important new discoveries, the growing deepwater
infrastructure, and the increasing deepwater production are all indicators of the expanding frontier.
This
ensures that the deepwater GOM will remain as one of the world�s premier oil and gas basins.
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Copyright © 1995-2010 ITA all rights reserved.
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Cover and Title Page
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
LEASING
DRILLING AND DEVELOPMENT
RESERVES AND PRODUCTION
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
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