Initial Lower Tertiary penetrations in the western deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GoM) document a greater-than 6,000 foot thick succession of Wilcox Group (upper Paleocene–lower Eocene) turbidites located 250 miles down-dip from their fluvial and deltaic equivalents. These same thick turbidites have also been discovered 200–300 miles to the east, in new exploration wells in this emerging trend. Regional synthesis demonstrates a systematic progression from lower slope to extensive fan sands to starved distal basin.

The deepwater Wilcox Trend covers over 30,000 square miles. Well target depths range from 12,000 to 35,000 feet subsea, water depths range from 4,000 to 10,000 feet, and salt canopies vary from 7,000 to more than 20,000 feet thick and cover approximately 90% of the trend. More than twenty wildcats have been drilled in the deepwater Wilcox Trend. The twelve announced discoveries have ultimate recoverable reserves ranging from 40–500 mmboe. Ultimately, the deepwater Wilcox Trend has the potential for recovering 3–15 billion barrels of reserves (bboe) from these and additional untested Louann salt-cored structures.

The Jack #2 production test (Walker Ridge 758) had a sustained flow rate of over 6,000 bopd from perforations that opened approximately 40% of the reservoir. The test occurred in 7,000 feet of water and below 25,000 feet subsea; it established six world production test records. Test results significantly increase our understanding of trend deliverability.

Many technical challenges need to be resolved before the billions of barrels of hydrocarbons trapped in deepwater Wilcox structures can be recognized as recoverable economic reserves. These challenges include complex sub-salt imaging improvements, reservoir quality, distribution and flow capability, cost-effective drilling and completion, facilities, and infrastructure designs.

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