All systems go for Western Gas-operated high-impact well

Australia’s Western Gas has now secured all necessary government approvals required to drill the Sasanof-1 high-impact exploration well on the North West Shelf, which is expected to start in the second quarter of this year.

Western Gas informed on Thursday that this milestone follows formal advice from the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) that Western Gas’ proposed Well Operations Management Plan (WOMP) had met government requirements considering health, safety, and well integrity aspects.

The WOMP is a regulator-approved document that describes the procedures and processes by which the company will safely construct the well, conduct data acquisition and maintain the integrity of the well during these activities. The well is planned to be permanently plugged and abandoned on completion of drilling and data acquisition activities.

Acceptance of the WOMP follows closely the acceptance by NOPSEMA in December 2021 of the Environment Plan and the Safety Case Revision for use of the Valaris MS-1 semi-submersible drilling rig to drill the Sasanof-1 well. The rig contract with Valaris was executed in November 2021.

These acceptances have been secured by the Western Gas team, in conjunction with primary contractors, AGR, Valaris, and XODUS Group. The drilling campaign is planned to start in 2Q 2022 using the Valaris MS-1 rig, targeting the multi-tcf, high liquids, low CO2 Sasanof resource.

Will Barker, Executive Director, commented: “All efforts are now focused on finalising remaining contracts, preparing for operations and delivering a safe and successful exploration effort for the Western Gas team and our well campaign partners Global Oil and Gas Limited (ASX:GLV) and Prominence Energy (ASX:PRM).”

The Sasanof Prospect covers an area of up to 400 km2 and is on-trend and updip of Western Gas’ liquids-rich, low C02 Mentorc Field. ERCE estimates the Sasanof Prospect to contain a 2U Prospective Resource of 7.2 Tcf gas and 176 Million bbls condensate (P50), with a high case 3U Prospective Resource estimate of 17.8 Tcf gas and 449 Million bbls condensate (P10).