Central Gulf of Mexico Sale Nets $159.1 Million
The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) announced the completion of the two-phase bid evaluation process for Lease Sale 172. This sale, held March 17, 1999, received 272 bids on 207 tracts offshore Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Of the 207 high bids received, MMS rejected 16 high bids totaling $12.7 million as insufficient for fair market value. Two of the tracts are located on the shelf and 14 tracts are located in deepwater. As a result, MMS awarded $159.1 million in high bids. Sonat Exploration GOM Inc. Spinnaker Exploration Company, L.L.C. BHP Petroleum (Deepwater) Inc. Elf Exploration, Inc.
Noble Drilling Files Suit
Noble Drilling Corporation, along with its subsidiaries Noble Drilling Services Inc. and Noble Drilling (U.S.) Inc., has filed suit against Samedan Oil Corporation and Mariner Energy, Inc. for breach of contract. In recent years, Noble Drilling has focused on increasing the number of rigs in its fleet capable of deepwater offshore drilling. A principal component of this deepwater strategy has been the conversion and upgrade of rigs to drill in water depths greater than 5,000 ft. Five of the six rigs in this program have been delivered under long-term contracts. Noble Max Smith was delivered on December 22, 1999 for use by Amerada Hess Corporation.
Noble Drilling Reaches Agreement
Noble Drilling Corporation has negotiated a resolution to the dispute with Mariner Energy, Inc. regarding the use by Mariner of Noble's newly converted semisubmersible, Noble Homer Ferrington. As announced on January 10, 2000, Noble had previously filed suit against Mariner and Samedan Oil Corporation for breach of contract regarding the use of the rig. As part of the settlement, Mariner and Noble have executed agreements covering use of Noble Homer Ferrington at variable dayrates for 660 days during a five-year period. Noble will also receive working interests in seven of Mariner's deepwater exploration prospects. Mariner will pay Noble's share of the drilling costs during the initial test well on each of those prospects. Noble Homer Ferrington, which is rated to drill in 6,000 ft.
