Murphy Oil Corporation has announced that its subsidiary has successfully drilled the Hai Su Vang-2X (HSV-2X) appraisal well in Block 15-2/17 in the Cuu Long Basin, located approx. 40 miles offshore of Vietnam. The well spud in early October 2025 and marks a major milestone in Murphy’s strategic appraisal campaign for the Hai Su Vang (Golden Sea Lion) field.
The HSV-2X well was drilled to appraise the 2025 Hai Su Vang discovery, where the initial discovery well encountered approximately 370 feet of net oil pay across two reservoirs. The HSV-2X well encountered 429 feet of net oil pay across the same two reservoirs, including 332 feet of net oil pay in the deeper primary reservoir and 97 feet of net oil pay in the shallow reservoir.
Within the primary reservoir, the HSV-2X appraisal well deepened the proven oil-down-to by 413 feet without encountering water, extending the total hydrocarbon column to approximately 1,600 feet. Formation evaluation supports reservoir continuity to the HSV-1X discovery well. The primary reservoir achieved a production rate of 6,000 barrels of oil per day during flow testing of the appraisal well. The well produced high-quality, 37-degree API oil which is consistent with the results from the discovery well. Further testing is ongoing.
These results confirm Hai Su Vang as a significant discovery and inform an updated range of recoverable resources for the field. The updated midpoint of recoverable resources for the primary reservoir is towards the high end of our previously communicated range of 170 to 430 MMBOE and the high end of the new range now exceeds 430 MMBOE. Additionally, results from the shallow reservoir provide recoverable resource upside not included in the previously communicated range. Additional appraisal wells are necessary to further refine the range of recoverable resources for both reservoirs.
'This is a pivotal moment for our Vietnam business,' said Eric Hambly, President and Chief Executive Officer. 'The success of HSV-2X not only reinforces the commerciality of the Hai Su Vang field but also sets the stage for a robust development program. We are proud of our team’s execution and remain committed to working closely with our partners and the Vietnamese Government to unlock the full potential of this asset.'
Following completion of HSV-2X operations, Murphy will continue its strategic appraisal campaign to further delineate the field and evaluate additional reservoir intervals with the HSV-3X appraisal well located in Block 15-1/05, and the HSV-4X well in Block 15-2/17. Both appraisal wells are included in our capital program, and we are reaffirming our previously stated CAPEX guidance of $1.1–$1.3 billion for 2026.
Murphy’s subsidiaries, Murphy Cuu Long Tay Oil Co., Ltd. and Murphy Cuu Long Bac Oil Co., Ltd., serve as the operators of Block 15-2/17 and Block 15-1/05, respectively, holding a 40 percent working interest in each block. PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation Ltd. holds a 35 percent working interest in each block, and SK Earthon Co., Ltd. holds the remaining 25 percent.
Source: Murphy Oil
