Talos Energy makes two deepwater discoveries in Gulf of Mexico

(WO) — Talos Energy Inc. announced on Jan. 3 that their Lime Rock and Venice prospects both successfully discovered commercial quantities of oil and natural gas during sequential drilling operations in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Talos holds a 60% working interest in the two deepwater discoveries, both of which are located near their 100% owned and operated Ram Powell platform. Future production from both wells will flow via subsea tiebacks.

Lime Rock and Venice highlights include 78 ft and 72 ft of net hydrocarbon pay in the primary targets at Lime Rock and Venice with excellent geologic qualities. Talos collected pressure, fluid and core samples from the wells to confirm the discoveries.

Expected combined gross production rates are in-line with pre-drill estimates of approximately 15-20 Mboed. The two wells will produce through a shared riser system at the Ram Powell facility.

Expected combined gross recoverable resources are in-line with pre-drill estimates of 20-30 MMboed, averaging approximately 40% oil and 60% liquids.

The Lime Rock and Venice discoveries are representative of Talos’ strategy of utilizing infrastructure acquired through active business development as a cornerstone for their organic growth strategy.

Following its installation as the deepest production facility in the world at the time, Ram Powell produced approximately 250 MMboed until Talos acquired the asset in 2018. Talos then initiated numerous optimization projects that increased production rates, reduced costs and initiated a third-party production handling agreement.

Simultaneously, Talos applied proprietary seismic reprocessing techniques to multiple recent vintage seismic surveys to identify new drilling prospects near Ram Powell, including Lime Rock and Venice.

The Lime Rock prospect was acquired in Lease Sale 256 in November 2020 and is approximately 9 miles from the Ram Powell facility. The Venice prospect was identified within the existing Ram Powell unit acreage approximately 4 miles from the Ram Powell facility.

Talos originally held a 100% working interest in both prospects prior to successful farm-downs to achieve its targeted 60% working interest. Talos expects the Lime Rock and Venice discoveries to bring Ram Powell's production rates to levels last seen approximately 15 years ago.

Lime Rock and Venice are the first two deepwater exploitation wells in Talos’ current open-water rig program that started in the fourth quarter of 2022 and which will continue in the first half of 2023 with the Rigolets and Lisbon prospects, among others.

Talos President and Chief Executive Officer Timothy S. Duncan commented, "These two discoveries are case studies of the exciting potential that infrastructure-led development can bring in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. For Talos, that translates to providing material production and cash flow in 2024 and beyond while reducing our operating cost structure through PHA fees and our carbon intensity through low-emission subsea production.

“Demonstrating our ability to successfully leverage existing infrastructure also reinforces the strategic merits of our pending acquisition of EnVen Energy Corporation, which will double our deepwater infrastructure footprint by adding six major facilities. Ram Powell provides a blueprint for future optimization, development and exploration potential around those assets and our own."

Separately, Talos expects results from its operated Mount Hunter development well and its non-operated Puma West exploration well in the first quarter of 2023. Their non-operated Pancheron exploration well is also expected to spud in the first half of 2023.