Shell Offshore Inc., New Orleans, has reached total depth at its deepwater #1 OCS-G-23502 in the northeastern section of DeSoto Canyon Block 269 in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The well, in 7,516 ft. of water, is the first of as many as four tests proposed by Shell in its plan of exploration. Shell isn’t alone in the area. Devon Energy Inc., Oklahoma City, is drilling a wildcat in 7,030 ft. of water in DeSoto Canyon 180. The #1 OCS-G-23493 is the company’s Tuscany prospect. The nearest proven well is BP’s King’s Peak in DeSoto Canyon 133. And, a well drilled by Total in nearby Mississippi Canyon 305 tested at 492.3 million cu. ft. of gas a day from Pliocene, according to IHS Energy.