Australian Worldwide Exploration Limited, AWE, the Australian based oil and gas exploration and production company has reported that the Netherby-1 well has begun drilling on July 15, 2008. The current operations on the Santos operated well are that the rig was setting surface conductor at a measured depth of 131 metres.
The Netherby-1 well is designed to test the Waarre “A” Sandstone and will be drilled to a planned total depth of 1,823 metres. The Netherby-1 is located in VIC/P 44, approximately 4 kilometres north of the Henry-1 gas discovery.
Previously, the Pecten East-1 well was plugged and abandoned at a total measured depth of 1,993 metres. Gas shows encountered in the well were evaluated by logs and pressure testing and were proven to be residual.
The Netherby-1 is the second well in the current drilling programme, which will target additional gas reserves in the offshore Otway Basin. In case of success at the Netherby-1 exploration location, the VIC/P 44 joint venture has included provisions to drill an immediate follow-up sidetrack development well.
The Henry-2 development well will follow immediately after Netherby-1/Netherby development well/s.
The participants in VIC/P 44 are: AWE 25%, Santos Limited (operator) 50% and Mitsui E&P Australia Pty Ltd 25%.
