Australian oil and gas company TTE Petroleum has acquired a holding in a fourth proven salt dome oil field on the Texas Gulf Coast.

TTE has purchased 361 net acres on the Blue Ridge salt dome after a successful negotiation with OXY USA Inc. TTE’s acreage, known as the Occidental Fee lease, represents a significant portion of the southwestern corner of the Blue Ridge field in Fort Bend County, Texas, approximately 20 miles south of Houston. Terms of the acquisition are to remain commercial in confidence, but are consistent with recent acquisitions and reflect current market conditions.

Depth of target sands in the Miocene, Frio and Vicksburg formations range from 450m to 1800m.

“I am very familiar with this property. I had leased a portion of this acreage almost 30 years ago where I drilled around 20 successful wells,” said CEO Brad Simmons. “Prior to TTE’s acquisition, this part of drilling fairway had been held by production for over two decades and was unavailable for lease. While there was competition from other oil companies, TTE prevailed.

“I have a long standing history in Blue Ridge and have been responsible for drilling over 230 wells in this field,” he continued. “It is like an ‘old friend’. It is incredibly exciting to have the opportunity to introduce our new TTE team to this field and I believe our shareholders will be quite happy with what we have in mind.”

TTE has identified a number of developmental drilling locations to extend the fairway across this south western flank. It is anticipated drilling operations will begin in the first quarter of 2016.