U.S. producer Occidental Petroleum Corp., Houston, on Thursday announced it discovered oil at the Bandit prospect in the U.S. Gulf, about 125 miles south of Louisiana.
The exploration well, located in the Constitution field of Green Canyon Block 680, "encountered high-quality, full-to-base oil-bearing Miocene sands," the company said in a press release.
Occidental, which operates Bandit with a 45.375% working interest, declined to provide additional details about the discovery and drilling program.
Partners in the well include U.S. oil major Chevron Corp. and Australia-based Woodside Energy Group Ltd., which hold 37.125% and 17.5 stakes respectively.
The companies said they are evaluating results to determine next steps, including a potential subsea tieback to an adjacent Occidental-operated facility or others nearby.
“Occidental is focused on strengthening our Gulf of America portfolio,” Jeff Simmons, senior vice president, subsurface technology and chief petrotechnical officer, said in a statement. “We believe this discovery demonstrates the continued importance of the Gulf of America as a strategic source of reliable domestic oil supply that supports long-term energy security.”
Occidental is the fourth-largest producer in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, renamed under the Trump administration as the Gulf of America. It operates eight floating platforms and produces from 14 active fields while owning a working interest in approximately 230 blocks, covering approximately 0.8 million net acres. In 2025, the company’s Gulf production was 132 Mboe/d from 96 gross wells.
“Bandit demonstrates our exploration strategy in action and reinforces the high-quality opportunities in the prolific deepwater Gulf of America,” said Kevin McLachlan, vice president, exploration, Chevron. “We are working with our co-owners to advance appraisal and development planning in a disciplined manner, leveraging existing infrastructure to help deliver competitive barrels.”
