Quadrant Energy started drilling the Driftwood-1 well in the WA-320-P permit area in the Carnarvon Basin, offshore Western Australia.
The well, being drilled with the Noble Tom Prosser jackup, is in the Barrow sub-basin of the Northern Carnarvon Basin, approximately 1km north of the Rosily-1A exploration well, which had minor oil shows, according to joint venture partner Tap Oil.
It is being drilled in 99m of water and will be drilled to approximately 2081m measured depth. The well is expected to take 19 days on a trouble free dry hole basis.
The well's objective is to test the Early Cretaceous sandstones of the Mardie Greensand Member, Birdrong Member and Zeepaard Formation in a low-relief, northeast-southwest trending four-way dip closure.
Driftwood-1 has an expected total well cost of US$11.8 million (AU$15.47 million) and Tap has a 5% carry on the well in WA-320-P of up to $3.5 million (up to a total well cost of $70 million) from JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration (Australia).
The WA-320-P permit is a joint venture between Quadrant (40.665%), Tap (9.778%), OMV Australia (39.557%) and JX Nippon (10%).
Image: Noble Tom Prosser jackup
