Vic/P47, BAS 40% and Operator
Permit Vic/P47 is located approximately 5 km offshore, south of the Victorian town of Orbost. Water depths range from 20 to 80 metres and the permit covers an area of some 718 sq km.
The permit includes the Moby-1 well, which is a gas discovery in the Gurnard Formation, and the Judith-1 well which is interpreted to be gas-bearing in the Emperor Subgroup based on logs and shows. The southern part of the permit, including both Moby-1 and Judith-1, is covered by modern 3D seismic surveys.
The prospective Judith gas accumulation is interpreted as analogous to the Longtom Gas Field which is located 22km west, outside the BAS permit area.
The Longtom-3 appraisal/development well flowed gas at up to 77 MMscf/d from the Emperor Subgroup, indicating for the first time the commercial potential of gas accumulations in this zone. A production licence has been granted for the Longtom field and operator Nexus Energy is proceeding with field development , targeting first gas production in 2009.
The Judith-1 well (Shell, 1989) encountered interpreted gas-bearing Emperor Subgroup sediments within a tilted fault block. Several of these zones exhibit structurally concordant amplitude anomalies (similar to Longtom), and high seismic amplitudes also point to the potential of additional gas-bearing horizons, not penetrated by the Judith-1 well.
The Vic/P47 joint venture has completed a technical review of Judith comprising 3D mapping, petrophysics, palynology, incorporation of public-domain Longtom well data, prospective resource estimates, a field deliverability study and notional development scenarios.
Two notional gas field development scenarios have been studiedbased on prospective resource estimates of 185 PJ and 413 PJ of recoverable gas respectively. The first scenario assumes potential delivery of gas to the Patricia-Baleen (PB) subsea installation approximately 20 km offshore, and the second, a standalone development with a new-build pipeline to shore and delivery of gas to onshore location. Both notional scenarios anticipate that all wells are extended-reach subsea wells.
This review suggests that Judith has similar appraisal/development potential to Longtom. Judith requires appraisal drilling to acquire more data on the accumulation and the joint venturers are seeking parties to earn equity in Vic/P47 by contributing to drilling costs in a Judith gas appraisal programme.
The West Triton jackup rig is scheduled for development drilling at Longtom in mid 2008. The West Triton would be suitable for appraisal drilling at Judith and slots are available for early 2009.
