Australian partner Magellan Petroleum said this morning the Sedco 703 was running abandonment plugs in the well.

“No significant hydrocarbon shows were encountered during drilling of the well and the subsequent wireline logs acquired in the well over the past 24 hours have confirmed the lack of any hydrocarbon zones,” said a company statement.

The well was drilled to a total depth of 3,636 metres in WA-306P, in the Southern Browse Basin, offshore Western Australia, approximately 280 km north west of Broome.

Interests are Magellan Petroleum (WA) Pty Ltd 12.5%, (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Magellan Petroleum Australia Limited), Antrim Energy Australia Pty Limited (Operator) 32.5%, ONGC Videsh Limited 55.0%