Print this pageTeal South Prospect, Offshore Louisiana: Successful Re-Development of an Abandoned Oil Field Using New Technologies
ANDRE, RICHARD A., and RINEHART, KENT R.
The Teal South project illustrates how new technology has been applied to re-develop an old oil field nearly ten years after the original field was abandoned. The prospect is situated along the southern edge of the prolific Eugene Island 330 mini-basin, and consists of a deep-seated anticlinal ridge cut by counter-regional growth faults. The intersection of these down-to-the-north faults with a series of down-to-the-east faults, along with changes in stratigraphy, create numerous structural-stratigraphic traps.
The original field was discovered in 1978 and was developed with ten platform wells drilled in 1981-1982. The original operator used state-of-the-art technology at the time, but was hindered by complex reservoir geology, ambiguous log responses and difficult drilling conditions. Production peaked at 2800 BOPD and declined steadily until 1987 when the field was abandoned. A second operator re-acquired the lease in 1989 but did not re-establish production.
Based on 3D seismic data and successful drilling results at nearby Teal Prospect (Eugene Island Block 338/339), Texaco acquired a farm-in of Eugene Island Block 354. In February 1994, Texaco drilled the Teal South Prospect and "re-discovered" the field. Full re-development with a new platform, new pipelines and a 12-well drilling program is ongoing. Production has already exceeded 1982 peak production by more than 300 percent.
New technology has been critical for developing this complex field. Examples include the integration of 3D seismic with geologic models, new logging techniques, horizontal drilling and frac-pac completions.