Eskdale-1, 2.3 kilometres away, was plugged and abandoned in early April after wireline logs revealed non-commercial hydrocarbons over the primary objective interval.

Even better news for equal partners, Woodside Petroleum and BHP Billiton, was that no oil-water contact was encountered. A Woodside release said analysis of data was continuing to determine whether the discovery was commercial or not.

The well was drilled by the Atwood Eagle to 2942 metres with coring operations continuing.

The Stybarrow-2 appraisal well intersected a 22 metre oil column, two kilometres south-west of Stybarrow-1, which yielded a 23 metre oil column. The field is close enough to the planned Enfield development by Woodside to be considered for a tied in development.