Voyager managing director John Begg said this was big step forward for his company.

“We are finally overcoming the tight market for offshore drilling rigs and have a big drilling program ahead,” Begg said.

“It will be our first drilling program on large targets offshore that have been selected using the 3D seismic technology that is proving so effective onshore in the Perth Basin. What’s more, by the time we finish the offshore program we should just about be ready to drill onshore in the Jingemia area, also with 3D seismic to select targets.”

The exploration drilling program will test a series of large prospects with similar geology to the commercial oil discoveries made over the past three years in the ara near Dongara.

Three exploration wells have been confirmed on targets selected from 3D seismic – Fiddich-1, Hadda-1 and Flying Foam-1.

Located about 300km north-west of the Cliff head field and in 160 metres of water, Fiddich-1 is a potential 100 million barrel field in WA-226-P, the northern-most licence held by Voyager.

Hadda-1 is in the WA-325-P lease while Flying Foam-1 is in the adjacent WA-327-P permit.

“Hadda-1 is approximately 135km north-west of Geraldton,” said Tom Fontaine, managing director of Bounty Oil & Gas, one of Voyager’s partners in the WA-226-P and WA-325-P exploration program,

“The prospect is a tilted fault block defined by good 2003 3D seismic with an estimated 65 million barrel potential. Flying Foam has 20 to 30 million barrel potential and is located about 25km north-northwest of Hadda.

In addition, one exploration well, Blue Jacket-1, is pending results of 2D seismic. Two development/appraisal wells are planned for the Cliff Head oil field.

Interests in WA-325-P and WA-327-P are Roc 37.5%, Apache 37.5%, Bounty 10%, Voyager 10% and Wandoo 5%. Interests in WA-226-P are origin 28.75%, Apache 28.75, Dana Petroleum 20%, Voyager 10%, Roc 7% and Wandoo 5%. Interests in WA-286-P are Roc 37.5%, AWE Oil 27.5%, Wandoo 24%, Voyager 6% and Cieco 5%.