Kew-1 had reached a depth of 760 metres at 6am (Perth time) yesterday morning, after it was spudded on September 23 using the Ensco 67 rig.

Expected to reach its planned total depth of 1,876 metres by this Friday, Kew-1 is a vertical well designed to test a four-way dip closed depositional mound within the Flag Sandstone.

Meanwhile, the Highgrove-1 well was spudded on Sunday and is expected to reach total depth by the end of this week. At 6am (Perth time) this morning, Tap reported the well had drilled to a depth of 745 metres and would continue drilling to a total depth of 1936 metres.

Highgrove-1 is designed to test a four-way dip closed depositional mound east of the Cycad-1 well. If successful a later development would be tied back to the Victoria Platform, said the company.

Joint venture partners in TP/8 and TL/9 are: Apache Northwest(operator and 68.5%), Kufpec Australia (19.2771%) and Tap Oil (12.2229%).