Japanese oil company INPEX announced it has acquired interests in a group of offshore blocks in the southern part of the US Gulf of Mexico.
The firm said in a press release on Friday that its subsidiary INPEX US Offshore, LLC has reached an agreement with Anadarko to acquire a 40% participating interest in Keathley Canyon blocks 921 and 965 as well as Walker Ridge blocks 881 and 925, located in 2,150 and 2,700 meters water depth, about 380 kilometers off the coast of Louisiana.
Anadarko is operator and holds the remaining 60% interests in the blocks.
The blocks, which cover an area of 93.2 square kilometers, lie in the vicinity of the Lucius and Hadrian North, two producing oil fields in which INPEX has participating interests.
The company plans to drill an exploration well at an early stage in partnership with operator Anadarko, subject to management approvals and further evaluation work, INPEX said.
INPEX stated previously in its Medium-term Business Plan that it positions the Gulf of Mexico as one of the company’s priority exploration areas.