News Release

Unearthing the potential beneath deepwater fracturing

Stimulation could expand Gulf of Mexico Lower Tertiary production by 170% in 5 years

byEnverus

CALGARY, Alberta (March 13, 2024) — Enverus Intelligence Research (EIR), a subsidiary of Enverus, the leading generative AI and energy-dedicated SaaS company, has released a report that assesses fracturing parameters and recovery enhancement within the Gulf of Mexico’s (GOM) Lower Tertiary play and analyzes project economics. 

“Growth of oil production from the Gulf of Mexico depends on operators successfully developing reservoirs found in what the energy industry calls the Lower Tertiary geological trend,” said Marvin Ma, report author and a vice president at EIR. “Developing the resource is challenging because the reservoirs typically contain ultra-high pressure and low permeability, so modern drilling and fracturing technologies are critical to unleashing their potential.” 

“The market is under-appreciating the role of hydraulic fracturing in the Gulf of Mexico — and its role in growing the Lower Tertiary play and potentially other offshore regions,” added Andy McConn, director and head of commercial intelligence at EIR. 

Key takeaways: 

  • EIR estimates the Lower Tertiary play will lead the GOM’s oil expansion with a production compound annual growth rate of 22% between 2023 and 2028. 
  • Only four operators have fractured 27 wells in the past decade, representing half of the Lower Tertiary producer wells. 
  • EIR has found that three to five zones can be fractured for each well, with an average treatment time of two days per zone. 
  • For the Julia, Saint Malo and Stones fields, EIR believes estimated ultimate recovery (EURs) increase by 6-10 MMbbl/well after fracturing stimulation occurs.  

You must be an Enverus Intelligence® subscriber to access this report. 

Members of the media should contact Jon Haubert to schedule an interview with one of Enverus’ expert analysts. 

EIR’s analysis pulls from a variety of Enverus products including Enverus Intelligence® Research and Enverus Core®.  

About Enverus Intelligence Research
Enverus Intelligence ® | Research, Inc. (EIR) is a subsidiary of Enverus that publishes energy-sector research focused on the oil, natural gas, power and renewable industries. EIR publishes reports including asset and company valuations, resource assessments, technical evaluations and macro-economic forecasts; and helps make intelligent connections for energy industry participants, service companies and capital providers worldwide. Enverus is the most trusted, energy-dedicated SaaS platform, offering real-time access to analytics, insights and benchmark cost and revenue data sourced from our partnerships to 98% of U.S. energy producers, and more than 35,000 suppliers. Learn more at Enverus.com.

Media Contact: Jon Haubert | 303.396.5996

View all press releases at Enverus.com/newsroom.

Picture of Enverus

Enverus

Energy’s most trusted SaaS platform — creating intelligent connections that uncover insights and opportunities to deliver extraordinary outcomes.

Related News

2Q26 U.S. upstream M&A slows to $9.1 billion amid crude volatility
News Release
ByJon Haubert

Enverus Intelligence® Research examines the 2Q26 slowdown in U.S. upstream M&A and the factors that could drive stronger deal activity later in 2026.

Brent holds at $100 as global supply risks persist
News Release
ByJon Haubert

Enverus Intelligence® Research examines the 2Q26 slowdown in U.S. upstream M&A and the factors that could drive stronger deal activity later in 2026.

Race to resiliency Tax-credit phaseout expected to push renewable PPA prices higher
News Release
ByJon Haubert

Enverus Intelligence® Research identifies 759 planned U.S. wind and solar projects that may require higher PPA prices to remain economic as federal clean electricity tax credits phase out.

New Mexico geothermal lease sale resets federal acreage pricing
News Release
ByJon Haubert

Enverus Intelligence® Research finds New Mexico’s BLM geothermal lease sale averaged $107/acre and set multiple records, resetting pricing expectations ahead of Idaho’s November auction.

New forecast separates organic electricity demand from structural load growth
News Release
ByJon Haubert

Enverus Intelligence® Research’s 80-zone Lower 48 forecast separates organic electricity demand from data centers, EVs and other structural drivers to clarify the baseline outlook through 2050.

Off the grid, on the gas
News Release
ByJon Haubert

EIR forecasts 62 GW of new U.S. data center capacity by 2030, as grid constraints drive behind-the-meter natural gas generation and demand growth.

Magnolia puts an Eagle Ford puzzle together with $4 billion WildFire deal
Analyst Takes News Release
ByAndrew Dittmar

Enverus Intelligence® Research examines Magnolia Oil & Gas’ $3.6 billion acquisition of WildFire Energy, highlighting its impact on Eagle Ford scale, inventory depth and operational synergies. The analysis explores the deal’s strategic rationale, valuation, and implications for future upstream M&A...

Cheaper to buy: Gas plant acquisitions remain well below newbuild costs
News Release
ByJon Haubert

Enverus Intelligence® Research finds existing gas-fired power assets are trading at roughly half the cost of new CCGT construction, supporting incumbent valuations and challenging merchant newbuild economics.

Asia pays up after Qatari LNG loss
News Release
ByJon Haubert

EIR analysis finds Asian LNG buyers have mostly absorbed lost Qatari supply through higher-cost replacement cargoes, with demand rationing concentrated among more price-sensitive importers.

Find Out How Enverus Can Help Your Business
Subscribe to the Energy Blog

A weekly update on the latest “no-fluff” insight and analysis of the energy industry.

Let’s get started!

We’ll follow up right away to show you a quick product tour.

Let’s get started!

We’ll follow up right away to show you a quick product tour.

Get Started

Sign up for our Blog

Ready to Subscribe?

Ready to Get Started?