Potential Gas Resources Under the West Florida Shelf and Slope and Their Development

ABSTRACT More than 7.9 Tcf of recoverable dry gas has been discovered in the deep Late Jurassic Norphlet Play around the mouth of Mobile Bay offshore Alabama since 1976. That trend extends southeastward by at least 40 miles to offshore Florida where the Destin Dome 56 pool of 2.6 Tcf of recoverable dry gas was found in the same play in 1995, more than 25 miles from shore. Additionally, 32 Tcf, to possibly 35 Tcf, of dry and associated undiscovered, recoverable gas resources are conditionally estimated to occur elsewhere beneath the Northern West Florida Shelf and under the outer Central West Florida Shelf and Slope in Norphlet or Smackover Plays. The State of Florida has closed its coastal waters to petroleum activities, is stalling the Destin Dome 56 gas field development, and objects to new leasing in Federal waters.