The Lower Tertiary trend is generally characterized by older sediments with lower porosities, ultra-deepwater depths, and high bottom hole pressures. Trend water depths range from 5,000-10,000 feet, while target reservoirs are deeper than 26,000 feet, have high sand content (as much as 70%), may exceed thicknesses of 400 feet, and typically lie underneath thick salt sheets. The extremes of these Lower Tertiary wells are pushing the capabilities of many technologies in exploration, drilling, formation evaluation, well testing and completion. Production startups have been delayed because many technical problems are being solved for the first time.

Halliburton has a leading position in the Lower Tertiary trend, having been involved in 15 of 16 announced discoveries. We are working closely with our customers to develop tools, methods and technologies designed specifically to address the unique challenges that operations in the Lower Tertiary present.