From dicko55,MrMcgee,The difference between the wells Linc are...

From dicko55,

MrMcgee,

The difference between the wells Linc are currently drilling and the subsalt well is, the current wells are all in formations found and produced since the 1930-50s. The reason there is any oil left in those formations is that some of these reservoirs was covered by salt, though not all, and the way to produce it was directional drilling around the corner of the salt. When these field were first discovered many moons ago, this technology was not available, and when the technology was available there wasn't enough oil left to make them economical. $100 oil fixed that.

Now the sub salt structure they want to drill, it is a true virgin. These potential traps were never drilled because the seismic in the past could not see through the salt. The big money studying the deep water sub salt, solved the problems, and then brought the cost down to the point that smaller land based targets became feasible. Now as long as they find an oil filled trap, it will be, full, high pressure, free flowing and should have a much slower decline rate.