Exploration for oil in the Norphlet reservoir in the deep-water Gulf of Mexico began in 2003 at prospect Shiloh (DC269). The well found oil but not an economic volume. The second prospect, Vicksburg (DC353), was drilled in 2007. This well found a larger in-place volume of oil, but with an immovable solid hydrocarbon component within pore spaces, there was great uncertainty as to the potential producible volumes. Two subsequent wells (Fredericksburg [DC486] and Antietam [DC268]) were dry and had a very small amount of oil, respectively. Finally, in late 2009, the fifth well (Appomattox [MC392]) was a significant discovery of high-quality oil in a thick aeolian Norphlet sandstone.