Dalmatian Deepwater Discovery to be subsea tieback
Mariner Energy, Inc. (NYSE: ME) today announced a deepwater discovery at its Dalmatian prospect located on De Soto Canyon Block 48. The well, which lies in water depths of nearly 5,900 feet, encountered approximately 120 feet (net measured depth) / 57 feet (net true vertical depth) of high quality, dry natural gas pay. Plans are to develop the well as a subsea tieback to existing infrastructure in the area. Mariner holds a 12.5% working interest in the field. Murphy Oil Corporation (NYSE: MUR) is the operator and holds a 50% working interest. Newfield Exploration (NYSE: NFX) holds a 37.5% working interest.
Scott D. Josey, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Mariner Energy said, "Our discovery at Dalmatian leveraged off of our previous successes at Swordfish (Viosca Knoll Blocks 917/961/962) and Aconcagua (Mississippi Canyon Block 305), and is another example of the value potential in Mariner's deepwater prospect inventory. The success at Dalmatian bodes well for our additional leaseholdings in the area, which consist of working interests ranging from 10 to 12.5% in five prospects on nine contiguous blocks."
Mariner also reported that drilling continues at its Surge prospect in Garden Banks Block 334. This is near the company's Geauxpher discovery (Garden Banks Block 462) disclosed earlier this year and currently under development. Another deepwater prospect, Heidelberg, is expected to spud next month on Green Canyon Block 859. Mariner holds a 40% and 12.5% working interest in Surge and Heidelberg, respectively.
