Anadarko hits pay in GoM; outlines Africa drilling program

Offshore staff

HOUSTON -- Anadarko has made a Miocene discovery at the Samurai prospect in Green Canyon block 432 in the Gulf of Mexico. The discovery well encountered more than 120 ft (37 m) of net oil pay in several high-quality sands, the company reports.

The Belford Dolphin drilled the well to a depth of about 31,700 ft (9,662 m). Anadarko operates the block with a 33.33% working interest. Partners in the discovery include Murphy Oil and Samson Offshore, each with a 33.3% working interest.

Anadarko is now mobilizing the drillship to West Africa to begin work on the Venus prospect in block SL-6/07 offshore Sierra Leone followed by the South Grand Lahou prospect in block 105 offshore Cote d'Ivoire. Both prospects have seismic signatures and characteristics similar to the Jubilee field offshore Ghana, the company says. Following these drilling activities, Anadarko plans to move the drillship to begin a multi-well deepwater drilling program offshore Mozambique.

"Samurai marks our third discovery in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico this year," says Bob Daniels, Anadarko Sr. VP of Worldwide Exploration. "We are very pleased with the results of this initial well, which is located in close proximity to existing infrastructure, demonstrating the value of our hub-and-spoke approach. We look forward to drilling a sidetrack appraisal well within the next year.”

06/24/2009