Gunflint (MC948) - Quarternorth Energy

Location

The Gunflint oil field is located in the Gulf of Mexico, specifically in Mississippi Canyon Blocks 948, 949, 992(N/2), and 993(N/2). It is approximately 90 miles (144 km) south of the coast of Louisiana, USA.

Ownership and Operation

As of 2024, the Gunflint oil field is part of the assets acquired by Talos Energy through its purchase of QuarterNorth Energy. Prior to this acquisition, the field was jointly owned by Noble Energy (31.14%), Ecopetrol America (31.5%), Marathon Oil Company (18.23%), and Samson Offshore Mapleleaf (19.13%).

Discovery and Development

The first discovery well at the Gunflint oil field was drilled in 2008, encountering more than 500 feet of hydrocarbon pay in multiple high-quality reservoirs rich in oil and natural gas. The well was drilled to a total depth of 29,280 feet at a water depth of approximately 6,100 feet. Additional appraisal wells were drilled and evaluated in 2012 and 2013, confirming the field's commercial viability in the third quarter of 2012. The decision to develop the prospect was made in 2013.

Reserves

The Gunflint field is estimated to contain a gross resource potential between 90 million and 325 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe).

Production

The development of the Gunflint field involved drilling two production wells that were tied back to existing infrastructure. The wells were tied back to Gulfstar's floating production system (FPS), which is a spar-based system moored in approximately 4,000 feet of water. This FPS has the capacity to produce up to 60,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and 135 million cubic feet of gas per day, with additional tieback capacity.

Infrastructure and Services

The offshore installation of pipelines, umbilicals, and ancillary equipment was performed by EMAS, an offshore service provider owned by Ezra Holdings. The pipeline installation was carried out by EMAS’ flagship vessel, Lewek Constellation, in water depths of up to 2,000 meters. Other activities such as pipe stalking and the fabrication of subsea structures were conducted at the EMAS Marine Base in Ingleside, Texas.

Current Status

Following the acquisition by Talos Energy, the Gunflint field is part of Talos's expanded portfolio in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The field is characterized by strong production histories with nominal declines and significant future development potential. However, as of recent updates, the Gunflint (MC948) asset is noted to be a shut-in oil and gas asset, indicating it may not be currently producing.

Financial and Operational Impact