Talos Energy drills potentially high-impact Daenerys well in US Gulf of Mexico

Seadrill’s deepwater drillship has spud the Daenerys exploration well in the US Gulf of Mexico.

Operator Talos Energy described in its second-quarter results report that Daenerys as a high-impact subsalt prospect in the regionally prolific Middle and Lower Miocene interval, with a potential resource of 100 MMboe to 300 MMboe. Results should be released toward the end of September.

Sunspear is tied into the Prince facility.

In late June, Talos brought onstream the Sunspear single-well tieback to the Prince platform, but soon afterward it had to shut in production following early failure of the surface-controlled subsurface safety valve.

The company will conduct a review with the service provider to determine the cause. After completing work on Daenerys, the West Vela drillship should return to the Sunspear well, with production likely restored in late October.

Talos also started up the Katmai West #2 well in June, a tieback to the company’s Tarantula platform. Combined production from the Katmai East and West fields to the platform is about 35 boe/d (71% oil), with the facility now operating at maximum capacity.

There are plans to investigate expanding the equipment to increase the production rate. Talos estimates that the greater Katmai area holds a total resource potential of up to 200 MMboe.

In Walker Ridge blocks 271, 272, 315 and 316, the company has raised its interest in the Beacon Offshore Energy-operated Monument discovery to 29.76%. Development will likely entail a subsea tieback to the Shenandoah platform, with first production anticipated by late 2026 in the range 20 MMboe/d to 30 MMboe/d.

There is an additional drilling location adjacent to the discovery containing an estimated 25 MMboe to 35 MMboe, Talos added.

Development and completion wells on the company’s radar for 2026 include Cardona, via the Pompano infrastructure and CPN via Na Kika.