MEO Australia announced that on Monday, Eni Australia Ltd as operator of the NT/P68 exploration permit had drilled the 311mm (12 ¼”) hole to 3,740mMDRT (metres Measured Depth below Rotary Table).
High background gas necessitated mud weight increase at 3,433mMDRT. Mud weight increased from 10.35 ppg (1.24 SG) to 14.3 ppg (1.71 SG) to manage background gas and stabilise the wellbore. The well is currently drilling ahead to the planned 9 5 /8” casing point.
There have been no reportable incidents.
The well was spudded on August 24 th 2012 and will be drilled to at least 4,265mMDRT or the gas water contact. The key objectives of the well are to determine the productivity of the Elang-Plover reservoir and the gas composition. The drilling program is expected to take around 60 days.
[mappress] LNG World News Staff, September 25, 2012; Image: MEO