U.S.-headquartered privately-owned exploration and production company LLOG Exploration has added 41 deepwater blocks to its list of assets in the Gulf of Mexico, where it plans to spud an appraisal well this quarter.
The acquisition enables the firm to be the sole owner and operator of all 41 blocks, covering approximately 236,000 acres in the East Breaks and Alaminos Canyon area of the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
Eric Zimmermann , Chief Operating Officer of LLOG, commented: “We are excited to add this significant additional acreage, with 100% working interest, as part of our ongoing lease acquisition strategy. We believe that the acquired acreage is complementary to our existing portfolio and meaningfully extends our position in the Western GOM.”
According to LLOG, this acreage sits north of its Blacktip and Blacktip North deepwater discoveries in Alaminos Canyon blocks 335, 336, 337, 380, 381, and 424. Following a sidetrack on the Blacktip discovery in the third quarter of 2023, the U.S. player is preparing to drill an appraisal well at Blacktip North in the third quarter of 2024.
“This acreage is near our Blacktip discovery and fits well with our regional development potential which we are actively progressing. We are in various stages of development for multiple projects and we remain focused on executing our strategy of developing deepwater GOM projects in our core areas,” highlighted Zimmermann.
A few months ago, LLOG disclosed plans for the Who Dat East appraisal/exploration well and the Who Dat South exploration well in the Gulf of Mexico to be undertaken with Noble’s Noble Valiant drillship and Seadrill’s West Neptune drillship, respectively.
The Who Dat East appraisal/exploration well was spudded at the end of April 2024, with data indicating a hydrocarbon-bearing aggregate total net pay thickness of 44 meters measured depth (MD) within the targeted intervals, with 31 meters MD within two discrete reservoir units. LLOG was expected to begin drilling the Who Dat South prospect toward the end of Q2 2024.
The firm also confirmed its intention to drill and complete multiple wells across its operated Buckskin field (KC 785, 786, 828, 829, 830, 871, and 872), Leon field (KC 642, 643, 686, and 687), and Castile field (KC 736).