Offshore staff

MILAN, Italy -- Eni has drilled the last appraisal well on its Longhorn discovery in Mississippi Canyon block 502 in the Gulf of Mexico. The well, drilled in 740 m (2,442 ft) water depth to 4,228 m (13,951 ft) TD, encountered 127 m (419 ft) of net pay in multiple sands, the company says.

Development plans call for a subsea tie-back to a host platform. Project sanction is expected by Dec. 2007, with first production in 2009. Eni plans to explore the area surrounding Longhorn in 2008.

Eni operates Longhorn with a 75% working interest. Nexen Petroleum Offshore USA Inc. holds the remaining 25%.

10/25/2007