Woodside has made an oil discovery at the Bandit prospect, located approximately 200 kilometres off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of America.
The Bandit-1 exploration well, situated in Green Canyon Block 680, encountered high-quality oil-bearing Miocene sands.
The project is operated by Occidental, which holds a 45.375 per cent working interest, with Chevron U.S.A. Inc., holding 37.125 per cent and Woodside Energy with 17.5 per cent as joint venture partners.
Following the discovery, the consortium is now conducting joint post-well studies to evaluate the results and determine the path forward. Initial assessments suggest the site offers strong potential for a subsea tieback to existing nearby infrastructure, including an adjacent Occidental-operated facility.
This tieback method is a common industry practice that connects offshore oil and gas fields to existing production facilities via pipelines and other infrastructure.
Woodside’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Mark Abbotsford, stated that the find reinforces the strategic importance of the US Gulf of America as a reliable energy basin.
“This result highlights the quality of the US Gulf of America and the role it continues to play in delivering secure, reliable energy,” Abbotsford said.
“The Bandit-1 discovery also demonstrates the value of disciplined exploration in established basins with clear pathways to commercialisation.”
In addition to the Bandit discovery, Woodside is actively expanding its footprint in the region. The company recently emerged as a successful bidder on two blocks in the ‘Big Beautiful Gulf’ 2 Oil & Gas Lease Sale, held in March 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
This follows a successful campaign in late 2025, which saw the company secure eight additional leases.
These initiatives are part of Woodside’s strategy to upgrade its Gulf of America portfolio, focusing on assets that offer clear development opportunities.
The company continues to work closely with its partners to finalise the evaluation of the Bandit prospect.
