Unlocking recovery: US GoM's US$70 billion opportunity

Oil and gas operators across the globe need to continually evaluate their reservoirs to find and exploit the best-performing ones. The petroleum industry today holds significantly more barrels than it requires; those with the lowest costs, reduced carbon emissions and the best economics will continue to be prioritised. This Insight shines a spotlight on reservoir recovery factors across the various United States Gulf of Mexico Deepwater plays. The correlations between the average estimated oil recovery factor across these plays and reservoir pressure, depth and porosity point us in the direction of the most advantaged reservoirs. US GoM operators have historically prioritised low-hanging fruits by developing these shallower reservoirs first. Nevertheless, technological advancements and an enhanced understanding of the subsurface have motivated explorers within the province to further investigate the deeper, more challenging, but also potentially more rewarding plays.