Apache Starts Drilling at Bianchi Prospect Offshore W. Australia

Tap Oil Limited has announced that on 12 April 2013, the Ocean America semi-submersible drilling rig commenced drilling the Bianchi-1 gas appraisal well in Retention Lease WA-49-R. The well will target sandstones in a Triassic age Mungaroo Formation within a separate fault block down dip of the Zola-1/ST1 gas discovery.

The Bianchi prospect is located in the Apache-operated WA-49-R retention lease in the offshore Carnarvon Basin, approximately 6.4km north-northeast of the Zola-1/ST1 gas discovery and 20.8km south-southwest of the Gorgon-1 gas discovery well. The Bianchi fault block is one of a series of adjacent structures that form the greater Zola area. The prospect was matured following interpretation of the Cambozola 3D seismic survey in 2012.

The well will be drilled as a vertical well in a water depth of 240 metres and is expected to take 80 days (trouble free) to drill to a projected total depth of 5,200 metres. Tap’s cost for  the well is expected to be  approximately A$8 million.
During the period from 1630 hours (AWST) on 12 April 2013 to 0600 hours (AWST) on  15 April 2013, Bianchi-1 was spudded and the well drilled to a depth of 840 metres.

The forward plan is to drill ahead to final total depth. Weekly updates will be provided on Tuesdays during drilling operations.

Tap’s Managing Director/CEO, Troy Hayden said:  “The Bianchi-1 appraisal well follows the successful discovery of Zola in WA-290-P in 2011 and will provide additional information on the potential  development path for the permit, including the Zola discovery.”