Noble Energy Announces Successful Drilling Results In The Gulf Of Mexico

HOUSTON, Aug. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Energy, Inc. NBL today announced final well results at the Katmai exploration well and the Dantzler appraisal well in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

At Katmai, wireline logging data indicates a total of 154 net feet of crude oil pay was discovered in multiple reservoirs, including 117 net feet in Middle Miocene and 37 net feet in Lower Miocene reservoirs. The discovery well, located in Green Canyon 40, was drilled to a total depth of 27,900 feet in 2,100 feet of water. Total gross resources⁽¹⁾ at Katmai are now estimated at between 40 and 100 million barrels of oil equivalent, including 40 to 60 million barrels of oil equivalent discovered from this initial well. Additional exploration and appraisal drilling will be required to test the remaining upside potential.

The Dantzler-2 appraisal well, located in Mississippi Canyon 782, encountered 122 net feet of crude oil pay in two high-quality Miocene reservoirs. The well was drilled to a total depth of 18,210 feet in 6,600 feet of water. Gross resources⁽¹⁾ at Dantzler have increased to between 65 and 100 million barrels of oil equivalent. Dantzler has been incorporated into the Company's plans in the Rio Grande development area, which also includes discoveries at Big Bend and Troubadour. The Rio Grande development remains on schedule, with first production from Big Bend expected in the fourth quarter of 2015 and Dantzler in the first quarter of 2016.

Susan M. Cunningham, Senior Vice President, Gulf of Mexico, West Africa, and Frontier, said, "The results at Katmai and Dantzler highlight Noble Energy's successful deepwater Gulf of Mexico program, which will contribute significant production and cash flow growth in the coming years. What we discovered at Katmai represents another commercial discovery in the Miocene trend and de-risks nearby prospects in the Company's Aleutians area. Our appraisal program at Dantzler has exceeded our expectations and enhances the value of the development."

Noble Energy operates Katmai with a 50 percent working interest. Ridgewood Energy Corporation holds the remaining 50 percent working interest.

At Dantzler, the rig has started well completion operations on Dantzler-2 and will then complete the Dantzler-1 discovery well. Noble Energy operates Dantzler with a 45 percent working interest. Additional interest owners are entities managed by Ridgewood Energy Corporation (including ILX Holdings II, LLC a portfolio company of Riverstone Holdings, LLC) with 35 percent and W&T Energy VI, LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of W&T Offshore Inc.) with 20 percent.

(1)  Range of resource estimate based on 75^th and 25^th percentile probabilities

Noble Energy is a leading independent energy company engaged in worldwide oil and natural gas exploration and production.  The Company has core operations onshore in the U.S., primarily in the DJ Basin and Marcellus Shale, in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, offshore Eastern Mediterranean, and offshore West Africa.  Noble Energy is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the ticker symbol NBL.  Further information is available at www.nobleenergyinc.com.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities law.  Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends,"  "will," "should," "may," and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Noble Energy' s current views about future events. They include estimates of oil and natural gas reserves and resources, estimates of future production, assumptions regarding future oil and natural gas pricing, planned drilling activity, future results of operations, projected cash flow and liquidity, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements contained in this news release will occur as projected, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks include, without limitation, the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas, the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves, the ability to replace reserves, environmental risks, drilling and operating risks, exploration and development risks, competition, government regulation or other actions, the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals and other risks inherent in Noble Energy's business that are discussed in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports are also available from Noble Energy's offices or website, http://www.nobleenergyinc.com. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Noble Energy does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change. 

The Securities and Exchange Commission requires oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions. The SEC permits the optional disclosure of probable and possible reserves, however, we have not disclosed the Company's probable and possible reserves in our filings with the SEC. We use certain terms in this news release, such as "total gross resources" and "gross resources," which are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved, probable and possible reserves and accordingly are subject to substantially greater risk of being actually realized. The SEC guidelines strictly prohibit us from including these estimates in filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures and risk factors in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in other reports on file with the SEC, available from Noble Energy's offices or website, http://www.nobleenergyinc.com.  

SOURCE Noble Energy