The Hovea-8 well is being drilled from the Hovea Production Facility as a horizontal well with the horizontal Dongara Sandstone section located between the Hovea-3 and Hovea-4 wells.

The Hovea-8 well design incorporates the design and drilling parameters from the recent successful deviated well program.

The well is designed to provide optimal drainage of the Hovea reserves, redundancy in the production system, and the ability to meet long term production targets.

A similar well with the same reservoir objectives is planned for the Eremia Oilfield (Eremia 2), later in the year.

The Hovea-9 well is also planned as part of the program. The final location of this well is yet to be agreed by the joint venture but it is likely to have the twin objectives of appraising the southern part of the Hovea Oilfield and of providing an additional water injection point to optimise recovery from both the Hovea and Eremia fields.

Participants in L1 and L2 (excluding the Dongara, Mondarra and Yardarino fields) are ARC Energy 50% and Origin Energy Developments 50%.