Spirit Energy 76 Says Mad Dog Appraisal Well Successful

Unocal Corporation's Spirit Energy 76 unit said the appraisal well drilled on the Mad Dog prospect in Green Canyon block 782 encountered 250 ft. of oil pay in zones that appear to correspond to those penetrated by the discovery well. The appraisal well was drilled to a measured depth of 20,268 ft. about two miles north of the discovery well. A sidetrack to the main appraisal well was drilled to 21,560 ft., and the results are under evaluation. Unocal holds a 25-percent interest in the 2.5 block drilling unit encompassing most of the Mad Dog structure. BP Amoco is operator, with a 63.56-percent interest in the well. BHP owns the remaining interest. "These encouraging results take us an important step forward in proving the commerciality of the Mad Dog discovery," said Mike Bell, vice-president of Unocal's deepwater program in the Gulf of Mexico. Bell said further appraisal drilling on the discovery will be required to define the size and extent of the structure and its potential volumes. After evaluation of the appraisal program, the partnership will begin work to create a development plan for the Mad Dog field. The Mad Dog drilling unit is located in 5,000 to 7,000 ft. of water in Green Canyon blocks 825, 826 and 782, about 150 miles southwest of Venice, La. The discovery well spudded in May 1998 in Green Canyon 826 and was drilled to a measured depth of 22,410 ft. Beginning in mid-2000, the company plans to begin drilling some of the most promising prospects in this ultra-deep province, with the arrival of the Discoverer Spirit drillship, currently under construction in Corpus Christi, Texas.