In a media statement, Tap announced, "The drilling is expected to take four days to reach total depth." The company is hoping to drill to a planned total depth of 1,480 metres measured depth.

"Following this well, Blackthorn-1 will be spudded to evaluate the possibility of an additional accumulation and/or extension of the field to the southeast," added Tap who has confirmed the Taunton oil field is currently delineated by four wells - Tauntons 1, 2, 3 and 3ST - and that Taunton-4 is being drilled to appraise the southern tip of the field.

Taunton-4 is located in Block TP/7 (Part 3) of the Carnarvon Basin and is approximately 7.5 km east-southeast of Airlie Island, which is off the coast of Western Australia.

Tap has a 12.474% stake in the TP/7 (Part 3) block, with Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd (holding a 43.711% share) being the operator. The other partners in the JV are Apache Oil Australia Pty Ltd (39.658%) and Pan Pacific Petroleum (South Australia) Pty Ltd (4.157%).