Exploration in deeper and ultra-deep parts of potential oil and gas basins-current status and possibilities

Abstract

A recent trend in exploration is the tendency toward objectives in remote areas, such as the deeper water environment and in deeper depths, given the current conditions of vibrant oil and gas demand. The terms deeper and ultra-deep wells are generally defined as those wells drilled deeper than ca 4,500 m and 6,000 m in depth, respectively. There are some new exploration opportunities to be reviewed in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and the Rocky Mountains region as examples of these changing trends. In the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, a deep gas exploration in shallow water areas attracts a great deal of players, including the majors. In the intramountain basins of the Rocky Mountain region, there are aggressive exploration and development activities underway in the basin-centered gas and other objectives regarded as unconventional resources. A technological breakthrough is a key issue to enable deeper drilling in all cases. It is vitally important to preserve the earth's resources, and it is necessary to observe and review the new trends and opportunities for exploration in mature oil and gas producing areas and for development of unconventional gas resources. In Japanese