The Champlain discovery is located in Atwater Valley Block 63, Central Gulf of Mexico, in 4400’ of water and beneath 7000’ of allochthonous salt. The acreage was acquired in 1991 for a suprasalt amplitude play; at that time the subsalt play was not well imaged. As 3D seismic data became available over the acreage in 1999, hints of a poorly defined salt-cored detachment anticline below the allochthonous salt sheet began to emerge. Subsequent PrSDM processing revealed the Oligocene-aged structure that sets up the play. Similar salt-cored anticlines had proven to be hydrocarbon bearing in the Green Canyon Mississippi Fan fold belt trend (MFFB), however structures that had been tested in the central Atwater Valley MFFB had not enjoyed the same success.

Pre-drill risk assessment identified presence of reservoir as the critical risk element of the play. The Champlain structure was believed to have been a positive feature throughout the lower and middle Miocene, potentially precluding sand deposition. Trap definition was limited by the image quality of available seismic. Hydrocarbon risk was relatively low due to the presence of neighboring discoveries and the focusing effect of the long-lived structure. Seal was expected to be provided by hemipelagic shale drape and condensed sections. In the first quarter of 2000, Texaco and partner Agip drilled the Champlain #1 well, confirming the presence of significant hydrocarbons in high quality middle Miocene sands.

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