Crown Minerals says Roc plans the well after the successful completion of a A$1 million, 35 sqkm 3D seismic survey over the prospect last year.

Last April Roc Oil said that a review of mud log data from the 1987 Totara-1 well showed the well might contain 25m of previously unrecognised net gas pay in a structure believed to have a potential of 50-100 bcf of recoverable gas.

Roc also said a number of Roc’s board members had some involvement in the 1987 discovery of the nearby Aurora and Tariki gas-condensate fields (by then government-owned Petrocorp).

Listed Roc Oil holds a 40% interest in and is operator of the PEP 38767 permit, along with Westech Energy New Zealand (30%) and Bridge Petroleum (30%).