Deepwater GoM discoveries thinning

摘要

The number of deepwater discoveries in the US Gulf of Mexico continued a downward trend in 2004, dropping to a total of 12 from 17 in 2003 and 21 in 2002. Meanwhile, more independents than supermajors are scoring big in the GoM deepwater. Of the 12 discoveries announced in 2004 - Atlas Northwest, Dawson Deep, Gold-finger, Front Runner North West, Jack, K2 North, Mississippi Canyon block 583, Puma, San Jacinto, Thunder Horse, Ticonderoga, and Tobago - independents drilled 10, while BP and ChevronTexaco logged one each. Anadarko, Dominion, Murphy, and Kerr-McGee share the top spot for most discoveries with two each. ChevronTexaco, BP, Unocal, and Walter Oil and Gas reported single finds. In 2004, operators found deepwater discoveries in water depths ranging from 2,487 ft for Walter's unnamed discovery in Mississippi Canyon block 583 to 9,627 ft for Unocal's To-bago field in Alaminos Canyon block 859.