A discovery in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico is a milestone for a partnership that includes a spinoff of China’s state oil company, Shell announced. Shell announced a discovery in the Rydberg area of the Norphlet play in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It’s the third major discovery in Norphlet for Shell and part of a series of wins for the partnership that includes the U.S. subsidiary of Colombian energy company Ecoptrol and Nexen, a subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corp. Shell said Tuesday it’s still assessing the data from the exploratory well in the Rydeberg area but expects it to hold about 100 million barrels of oil equivalent. Together with the two other discoveries in the Norphlet play — Appomattox and Vicksburg — Shell says the region holds at least 700 million boe. Shell and Nexen are planning another exploratory well […]