McMoRan Exploration Co. Updates Gulf Of Mexico Exploration And Development Activities

McMoRan Exploration Co. (NYSE: MMR) updated its ultra-deep exploration and development activities in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Shelf and onshore in the Gulf Coast area, including in progress flow testing operations at Davy Jones No. 1, positive drilling results onshore at Lineham Creek, new logging results from Blackbeard West No. 2 and in progress operations at Lomond North.

McMoRan today provided an update on the Davy Jones No. 1 production test currently in progress on South Marsh Island Block 230. As previously reported in October 2012, McMoRan replaced heavy drilling mud in the hole with clear completion fluid, which was required to suppress flow in the well while the final steps were completed. On November 11, 2012, the well was opened for test and flowed gas into an unmetered atmospheric tank before being flared. To date, MMR has recovered completion fluids with weights of approximately 9 and 19 pounds per gallon and is initiating operations to inject a barite solvent into the formation in order to clean out the perforations to achieve a measureable flow test. McMoRan will provide updates as flow testing operations progress and a measurable flow test is achieved.

As previously reported, McMoRan has drilled two successful sub-salt wells in the Davy Jones field. The Davy Jones No. 1 well logged 200 net feet of pay in multiple Wilcox sands, which were all full to base. The Davy Jones offset appraisal well (Davy Jones No. 2), which is located two and a half miles southwest of Davy Jones No. 1, confirmed 120 net feet of pay in multiple Wilcox sands, indicating continuity across the major structural features of the Davy Jones prospect, and also encountered 192 net feet of potential hydrocarbons in the Tuscaloosa and Lower Cretaceous carbonate sections.

Davy Jones involves a large ultra-deep structure encompassing four OCS lease blocks (20,000 acres). McMoRan is the operator and holds a 63.4 percent working interest and a 50.2 percent net revenue interest in Davy Jones. Other working interest owners in Davy Jones include: Energy XXI (NASDAQ: EXXI) (15.8%), JX Nippon Oil Exploration (Gulf) Limited (12%) and Moncrief Offshore LLC (8.8%).

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