Karoon Gas Australia has announced that at 06:00 WST on the 23rd of May an 8-1/2” drilling assembly was being made up as final preparations are made to recommence drilling in the 8-1/2” hole section at the ConocoPhillips-operated Proteus-1 well, offshore W. Australia.
Since the last update the 8-1/2” hole section was drilled to a depth of 4740m where drilling difficulties halted progress. The 8-1/2” hole was then plugged back and preparations were made to sidetrack the well.
A return to drilling is expected in the next 24 hours. ConocoPhillips is the operator of the jointly held WA-314-P, WA-315-P and WA-398-P Browse Basin permits containing the previously announced Greater Poseidon gas discoveries. Karoon Gas Australia Ltd holds a 40% equity interest in permit WA-315-P and WA-398-P, and a 90% interest in permit WA-314-P.
Proteus-1 is the third well in the exploration program. Proteus-1 is located in permit WA-398-P on a large tilted fault block approximately 14 kilometres south south east of the Poseidon-1 discovery well. The Transocean Legend semi-submersible rig is drilling the exploration well, which is operated by ConocoPhillips.