Earlier this month commentators predicted a significant new oil province in the Exmouth Basin, based around the Ravensworth, Stybarrow and Stickle discoveries. BHPB and Woodside had released a positive report from the Stybarrow appraisal drilling campaign in the WA-255-P(2) permit, following an Apache Energy report on the success of the Ravensworth-2 well.

Now the JV is pulling anchors on the Indian-1 exploration well after wireline logs were run, and the well was plugged and abandoned. Preliminary log analysis indicates that the target Eskdale Member sands are water wet.

The well location is approximately 10km west southwest of the Stybarrow field. Water depth at the location is 981m.

Joint venture participants in WA-271-P are Woodside Energy (60%) and Mitsui E&P Australia (40%). The well is being drilled by BHP Billiton on behalf of the WA-271-P operator, Woodside Energy.