Image of Ekofisk, North Sea, Norway Pic courtesy: ConocoPhillips Company ConocoPhillips has struck out with two exploration wells, one offshore Angola and the other in the Gulf of Mexico, the company announced Wednesday.
According to ConocoPhillips, Omosi-1 deepwater exploration well in Block 37, offshore Angola in the Kwanza basin, has been drilled to a total depth of 20,666 ft. A gas column of approximately 525 ft was encountered in the primary objective reservoir. No further activity is planned. The well has been plugged and abandoned.In the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, the Harrier prospect in Mississippi Canyon Block 118 has been drilled to a total depth of 19,400 feet. No commercial hydrocarbons were encountered. The well will be plugged and abandoned. Stone Energy Offshore, L.L.C. was a non-operating co-owner in the Harrier prospect.
An after-tax charge relating to the two wells of approximately $142 million net to ConocoPhillips will be recorded to dry hole expense in the first quarter of 2015.
The total before-tax exploration expense for the quarter is estimated to be $482 million, which includes dry hole, leasehold impairment, G&A, and G&G expense.
Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips, is contemplating the divestment of some of its North Sea assets in Norway. The company is considering the sale of stakes in assets that include Aasta Hansteen, Alvheim and Grane fields.
