The well is located in onshore Perth Basin Production Licence L1, some 830 metres northeast of Hovea-1 and according to Origin, is programmed as an initial vertical well to test deeper exploration plays in the Early Permian section below the oil zone intersected at Hovea 1.
Origin, who are partnered with Arc Energy, said following evaluation of this section it will then sidetrack the well to appraise the northeastern extent of the Hovea-1 oil discovery (drilled by Origin Energy in October 2001).
The company said interpretation of 3D seismic recently acquired over the field indicates that Hovea-2 could be up to 110m up dip from Hovea-1 at the oil bearing Dongara Sandstone level. Total depth of the vertical well is programmed at 2730m.
The Hovea-2 well will be followed by the exploration well Jingemia-1 located in adjacent exploration permit EP413, some 5 kilometres to the southwest of Hovea, according to Origin.
Partners in Jingemia also include Australian Worldwide Exploration, Phoenix Energy, Empire Oil and Pancontinental Oil & Gas.
“This well is programmed to test a separate prospect at the Dongara Sandstone level. Deeper targets are also in structural closure at the well location, and may be drilled depending on results at the primary target level,” Origin said. Planned total depth for Jingemia 1 is 2400m.
In other Origin news, the company has reached a farm-out agreement with Apache Energy for a subsidiary of Apache to earn an undivided 28.75% interest in WA-226-P from Origin Energy.
Under the terms of the farm-in, Apache will manage the drilling of the Morangie 1 well, scheduled for late 2002, on behalf of Origin Energy. Origin Energy will remain operator of the permit.
WA-226-P is located in the northern offshore Perth Basin, approximately 230km northwest of Geraldton. The Morangie-1 well will test an undrilled prospect interpreted to have the potential to contain up to 250 million barrels of oil in place. Permian sandstones below the Triassic regional seal provide the main reservoir objective.
Origin added several follow up structures are also present in WA-226-P and these will be evaluated following the drilling of Morangie.
