Hunt Oil has encountered oil with its exploratory well drilled on the US Gulf of Mexico's West Cameron Block 289, according to industry sources. The wildcat well, drilled by the jackup Ensco 67, went to a total depth of 13,714 ft.
Hunt has now suspended the discovery well, which is located in the south-eastern corner of Block 289 in some 45 ft of water. A seven-inch liner has been set and testing is now underway to determine the commerciality of the find.
The company's exploration plan calls for as many as four wells to be drilled from the same number of locations on the block. The block has already proven to be a producer, having had output from a well drilled in adjacent Block 294.
The total production from the block, which ceased in 1993, was some 16.5 bn cf of gas and 67,000 barrel of condensate.