PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX) announced today the results of additional production testing on Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas's (FM O&G) Highlander discovery, located onshore in South Louisiana in the Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous trend. The production test, which was performed in the Cretaceous/Tuscaloosa section, utilized expanded testing equipment and indicated a flow rate of approximately 75 million cubic feet of natural gas per day (MMcf/d), approximately 37 MMcf/d net to FM O&G, on a 42/64th choke with flowing tubing pressure of 10,300 pounds per square inch. FM O&G expects to immediately commence production using FM O&G facilities in the immediate area. FM O&G plans to install additional amine processing facilities to accommodate the higher rates.
As previously reported, the Highlander discovery well was drilled to a total depth of approximately 29,400 feet in first-quarter 2014. Wireline log and core data obtained from the Wilcox and Cretaceous sand packages indicated favorable reservoir characteristics with approximately 150 feet of net pay. In December 2014, FM O&G tested the well at a rate of approximately 43.5 MMcf/d on a 22/64th choke with flowing tubing pressure of 11,880 pounds per square inch. A second well has been identified and future plans are being evaluated in this high potential area. FM O&G has identified multiple prospects in the Highlander area where it controls rights to more than 50,000 gross acres.
James R. Moffett, Chairman of the Board; Richard C. Adkerson, Vice Chairman, and FCX President and Chief Executive Officer; and James C. Flores, Vice Chairman, and FM O&G President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "This additional test data confirms the highly favorable reservoir characteristics of this discovery. We look forward to immediately establishing commercial production from this important discovery."
FM O&G is operator of the Highlander well and holds a 72.0 percent working interest and an approximate 49 percent net revenue interest. Other working interest owners include Energy XXI LTD (Nasdaq: EXXI) (18.0%) and W. A. "Tex" Moncrief Jr. (10.0%). The Gulf Coast Ultra Deep Royalty Trust (Nasdaq: GULTU) holds a 3.6 percent overriding royalty interest in the Highlander area.
FCX is a premier U.S.-based natural resources company with an industry-leading global portfolio of mineral assets, significant oil and gas resources and a growing production profile. FCX is the world's largest publicly traded copper producer.
FCX's portfolio of assets includes the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia, one of the world's largest copper and gold deposits; significant mining operations in the Americas, including the large-scale Morenci minerals district in North America and the Cerro Verde operation in South America; the Tenke Fungurume minerals district in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and significant oil and natural gas assets in North America, including reserves in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM), onshore and offshore California and in the Haynesville natural gas shale play, and an industry-leading position in the emerging shallow water Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous natural gas trend on the Shelf of the GOM and onshore in South Louisiana. Additional information about FCX is available on FCX's website at "www.fcx.com."
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are all statements other than statements of historical facts, such as expectations relating to production and sales volumes, development and production activities and capital expenditures.