Samson Offshore LLC has exited the Samurai prospect in Green Canyon block 432 (G32504), selling its 33.33% participating interest, held by its affiliate Samson Offshore Samurai LLC, to BHP Billiton Petroleum (Deepwater) Inc. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) approved the equity transfer on 24 January 2018 in a transaction that takes effect on 1 December 2017. Samurai is a 2009 subsalt Middle Miocene oil discovery. Former operator Anadarko E&P Company LP made the original find and now owns a 25% stake through its subsidiary Anadarko US Offshore Corporation. Murphy Exploration & Production Company â USA took over as operator in 2013 and hold a 41.67% working interest. The discoveryâs G32504 lease is set to expire in May 2018 and the oil find has not yet seen its first delineation well. However, the addition of BHP and other actions taken by Murphy appear to signal that the prospectâs appraisal is forthcoming. The Samurai project lies in some 3,500 feet (1,067 m) of water in the northeast quadrant of the Green Canyon (GC) protraction area, approximately 100 miles (160 km) due south of the coastal support base at Port Fourchon, Louisiana. GC block 432 is a standard-sized 5,760-acre (23.31 sq km) deepwater tract. The leaseâs 10-year primary term is on a short fuse, having an expiry date scheduled to expire on 31 May 2018. Samurai has an approved exploration plan on file and Murphy has reportedly awarded a contract to retain the services of the Transocean âDeepwater Asgardâ for work in the second quarter of 2018. Given the Samurai leaseâs imminent expiration, the ultra-deepwater rig is likely headed to the prospect to commence appraisal drilling of the discovery. The Samson website also notes that the Samurai discovery was to be appraised in early 2018.
BHP acquired Samsonâs  33,33% participating interest in the Samurai prospect in GC 432 block (G32504).