Exxon installing record template in Gulf of Mexico

This paper reports that Exxon Co. U.S.A. has begun installing the largest multiwell satellite subsea template system in the Gulf of Mexico. Exxon last week began installation of the 445 ton drilling and production template and 285 ton, 10 well manifold last week in about 1,500 ft of water on Mississippi Canyon Block 354 about 50 miles south of Grand Isle, La., to handle production form Zinc field. Exxon expects to drill as many as six wells through the Zinc template, although more might be needed. The first three wells-to be drilled directionally in first quarter 1993 to sands at true vertical depths of about 7,000 ft-are expected to be producing by mid-1993. The next three wells will target deeper reservoirs. Budgeted cost of building and installing Zinc template and drilling the first three wells is $150 million. Each of the first three wells is expected to produce about 15 MMcfd of gas.