US Gulf of Mexico operators Kosmos Energy and Talos Energy are limbering up to drill significant exploration prospects that could, if successful, be tied into nearby offshore production facilities.

Kosmos said it is targeting the Tiberius prospect in Keathley Canyon Block 964 in “the prolific outboard Wilcox play”.

Tiberius is a four-way structural trap targeting a pre-drill gross resource of about 135 million barrels of oil.

Kosmos chief executive Andy Inglis said Tiberius is “one of the best prospects in our exploration portfolio and could materially grow our Gulf of Mexico business”.