The company reported that a drill stem test of the Christies-2 appraisal/development well had flowed oil at a rate of 1,960 barrels per day from the interval 1,344 - 1,352m in the Namur Sandstone.
The original Christies-1 oil discovery, made last year and currently in production, came from the deeper Birkhead Formation, which is yet to be tested in the current Christies-2 well.
“This is a pleasant surprise and hopefully will provide a bonus to the main target, the Birkhead Formation,” said Beach Petroleum’s managing director, Reg Nelson.
“It augurs well for possible further discoveries to the west of the Christies field as the westward oil migration path along this route is likely to have filled a number of traps.”
Christies-2 has a planned total depth of 1,854m and is located in PEL 92, 85km west of Moomba in the South Australian section of the Cooper Basin, and about 280m southwest of the producing Christies-1 well.
“Subject to further testing and drilling in Christies-2, its proximity to Christies-1 will allow a very rapid connection to production infrastructure,” Nelson said.
Drilling is expected to resume at the well later today to target the deeper Birkhead Formation, with final results not expected for about a week. Participants in the well are Beach Petroleum (75% and Operator) and Cooper Energy NL (25%).
