Over the past decade there have been many Miocene Cristellaria I and Cibicides opima discoveries resulting from integration of detailed geology and advanced geophysical techniques. These discoveries, typically in a depth range of 13,000 to 15,000 ft, are in a geopressured environment, have excellent productive capabilities, high liquid content, and can pay out in a few months. Many are so-called AVO class 2 anomalies with a complete phase reversal from wet sand to pay. This phase reversal complicates the interpretation due to the effect on apparent dip and that observed amplitudes can vary, with tuning providing the highest amplitudes in the 70 to 110 ft. pay thickness range

In the same general area there have been a number of deeper discoveries. These are typically in excess of 18,000 ft. but still have excellent sand quality and have proven capability. An example is the UPR/Cabot Etouffee Field find that has produced 25 MM bbl and over 100 Bcfg from a few hundred acres. A large recent discovery at 15,000 ft. is in Contango’s Eugene Island Block 10 with 150 ft. of pay in the first well. With additional wells, this field is now producing well over 100 MM cfg/d. McMoran’s Flatrock production in South Marsh Island blocks 212/217 has six successful wells as of late 2009 with more than 250 ft. of pay in some of the wells. Production is over 200 MM cfg/d. The McMoran Davy Jones discovery at 29,000 ft. adds a new dimension to the hunt. The production capability of the ultra-deep pays is unproven, but there is ample evidence for excellent sand quality below 20,000 ft.

The authors will discuss a number of the discoveries with the techniques and procedures used and will present a view of future exploration in the area going into even deeper targets, where there are a large number of untested structures.

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