Shell, Chevron & Petrobras On Gulf Of Mexico Ultra Deep Drilling

The fact that the Lower Tertiary Trend and other ultra deep reservoirs located in the Gulf of Mexico hold up to 15 bn barrels of oil is no longer a secret – and many operators globally are now acutely aware of the overwhelming commercial potential for ultra deep oilfield development.

New production opportunities however bring new technical challenges that are pivotal in ensuring these reservoirs evolve towards full scale commercial production. Seismic acquisition and interpretation within the Paleogene is a key hurdle to overcome, with thick salt canopies requiring the application of new innovative seismic techniques to ensure traps can be targeted.

What’s more, the depth of these reservoirs has left operators demanding new specifically configured drilling and completions solutions for use in the unprecedentedly HPHT conditions. Innovations in drilling muds, casing, cementing and frac fluids are now being tried and tested to ensure cost effective exploitation of the reservoirs, while mitigating blow outs.

COMMERCIALIZING THE OPPORTUNITY

So what is needed to drive this opportunity towards commercial exploitation? A technical re-think of drilling solutions, re-planning of development strategies both geophysically and operationally and an innovations drive for dealing with the salt canopy and HPHT challenges. The good news is, major industry players are already responding.  

The mission of the debut Gulf of Mexico Ultra Deep, HPHT Reservoirs: Basin Modeling, Drilling & Completions 2013 is to bring together global E&P companies and experts in ultra deepwater development and innovators in reservoir characterization and exploitation of ultra deep reservoirs to evaluate commerciality of the Gulf Of Mexico’s ultra deep reservoirs.