Australia: Strike Energy Starts Field Operations at Southern Cooper Basin Gas Project

October 29, 2013

Strike Energy announced that field operations at the Southern Cooper Basin Gas Project have commenced. A drilling rig is on location at the Le Chiffre 1 well site preparing to spud pending receipt of final regulatory approvals.

This well marks the start of the next step in Strike’s program for the rapid commercialisation of the large gas resource in PEL 96 and the adjacent permits.

Le Chiffre 1 Details

The Le Chiffre 1 well is being drilled by the PEL 96 joint venture (Strike 66.7% and operator. Energy World Corporation 33.3%) and is located approximately 105 km south-south west of Moomba and 4 km east of the Moomba to Adelaide Pipeline.

The well will be drilled to a proposed total depth of 2,021 m and is expected to take approximately 21 days to complete. The drilling program includes extensive coring and formation evaluation of the Toolachee, REM and Patchawarra formations. Preliminary formation productivity testing may also be conducted via a wireline conveyed tool assembly before the well is cased and suspended pending completion and an extended production testing program in 2014.

This well will further define the thickness and continuity of the coals within the PEL 96 Phase One Area and provide critical gas content, saturation and hydrocarbon composition data.

Results from the appraisal program will underpin the decision to commence an extended pilot test program, ahead of a commitment to develop a commercial gas project.

Energy Drilling Australia’s Rig 3, a new build Schramm TXDE 200 has been contracted for the drilling operations.

Managing Director, David Wrench, said: “We are very pleased to now be commencing the next stage of our commercialisation plan for the Company’s Southern Cooper Basin Gas Project. Early success from the work program to be completed this quarter has the potential to underpin an acceleration of pilot production testing at the project.”

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LNG World News Staff, October 29, 2013; Image: Strike Energy