GulfSlope files for permit to drill Gulf of Mexico prospect

GulfSlope Energy has filed an application for permit to drill and submitted the exploration plan (EP) for the drilling of the Tau prospect on the outer continental shelf of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

The application for permit was filed with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the EP was submitted to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The company anticipates receiving approvals in late March.

Tau is a subsalt Miocene prospect located on Ship Shoal Area, South Addition Blocks 336/351 in approximately 305 feet of water. The Tau No. 2 well is designed to be drilled to 20,000′ TVD (21,543′ MD) to test multiple intervals that correlate to productive zones in the nearby Mahogany Field, located approximately five miles to the southwest.

GulfSlope is the operator with a 25 percent working interest and Delek GOM Investments LLC, a subsidiary of Delek Group, owns a 75 percent working interest.

John Seitz, Chairman and CEO of GulfSlope, said: “GulfSlope was encouraged by what we saw in the geologic section penetrated below salt in the Tau No. 1 well. The new surface location avoids issues encountered in the first well and optimizes below salt targeting of the prospective intervals. We are looking forward to drilling deeper and testing the large and very exciting exploration potential in the Tau Prospect.”

“We are conducting pre-drill activities and are actively working with our insurance underwriters to finalize the previously announced claim. The insurance proceeds should provide the majority of the funds required to drill Tau No. 2.”

GulfSlope has previosuly hired the Valaris 102 jack-up drilling rig. The company said last year that, in addition to a subsalt test well at Vermilion 375 (Corvette Prospect), the rig is also suitable for drilling the second well at Tau.

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