ExxonMobil is still evaluating its next steps for a problematic production well at its Julia tie-back project in the ultra-deep­water US Gulf of Mexico after being forced to abandon a section of the wellbore following an incident last year.

The well is the fifth development well drilled on Walker Ridge Block 584 for the Julia project.

ExxonMobil brought on line the first two Julia wells last spring and plans to start producing from the next two later this year.

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