The good results from Taunton-3 and -3L1 indicate that reserves for the field are toward the upper end of pre-drill expectation, at around 5 million barrels.

No oil/water contact is evident from log data and it is interpreted that an additional extension of the oil column may extend downdip to the east.

Flow rates from the reservoir were established by testing of the Taunton-2 well, which was flowed at a rate of 3,000 barrels of oil per day.

No further testing of the wells is required and it is now planned to plug and abandon the Taunton-3/L1 and Taunton-3 wells.

Once the new information, including core data, has been incorporated into the field evaluation, it is expected that a development decision will be made rapidly, targeting first production in 2004.

Development of the field will comprise a platform and short pipeline to the Airlie Island oil facilities 5km to the east.

The partners in the field include Apache Oil Australia 80 % (operator), Pan Pacific Petroleum 10 % and Tap (Shelfal) 10 %.

As the operations at Taunton have been completed the rig has moved to the Hyssop-1 location in TP7 (Apache Oil Australia P/L 90 % operator and Pan Pacific Petroleum 10 %).

Hyssop-1 is targeting a Top Barrow closure at 600m, with potential in the range 10-30 million barrels. Results are expected in about three days.