The infrastructure-led exploration (ILX) efforts of Kosmos Energy and its partners have potentially unlocked 100 million barrels with a discovery of oil in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico’s (GoM) Green Canyon area, according to a news release.

The company said Jan. 19 the Winterfell ILX well, designed to test a subsalt Upper Miocene prospect in Green Canyon Block 944, hit about 26 m (85 ft) of net oil pay in two intervals. Located in about 1,600 m (5,300 ft) of water, the well was drilled to a total depth of about 7,000 m (23,000 ft).

The discovery validates the company’s “basin exploration strategy, which is focused on low cost, short cycle, low carbon development solutions,” Kosmos Energy CEO Andrew G. Inglis said in a news release Jan. 19.

“The well in Green Canyon Block 944 de-risks prospectivity in several neighboring blocks held by Kosmos, with approximately 100 million barrels of gross potential within Kosmos’ acreage position,” he added.

An appraisal plan and development options for the discovery, which is near existing host facilities, are being devised by Kosmos and partners, the company said.

The well is operated by an affiliate of Beacon Offshore Energy LLC. Red Willow Offshore LLC, Ridgewood Monarch North LLC, CSL Exploration LP, CL&F Offshore LLC, Houston Energy LP, Beacon Offshore Energy Exploration LLC and Beacon Asset Holdings LLC also hold interests, the release said.

Kosmos said it plans to drill the Zora ILX well in the GoM later in the year.

Offshore