At 6am (WST) this morning, the well had been drilled to a depth of 3060 metres and was running in the hole after a bit trip.
The company is drilling the well as a sole-risk project after L1 partner Origin energy opted out. Arc said it intersected the Dongara Sandstone at about 3028 metres measured depth, upon which elevated gas readings were recorded.
Arc said these readings indicated porosity development from drilling rate changes and sample description over six metres.
“These indications are generally similar to those encountered in the nearby Xyris-1 and Apium-1 wells,” Arc managing director Eric Streitberg said.
“However, the LWD tools that would normally assist in evaluating the significance of the shows were inoperative at the time and the significance of the shows will be therefore be determined over the next few days following the drilling of the well to total depth and completion of the wireline logging program, when a decision on the forward plan for the well will be made.”
The well is targeting a fault bounded closure gas prospect, with P50 potential recoverable reserves of about 20 billion cubic feet of gas. Arc said the reservoir development was assessed as the principal risk.
Upon a commercial discovery, Snottygobble-1 will be quickly brought onto production through the XAGGS gas gathering system, according to Arc.
All wells in the L1 and L2 licences were named after native plants, including Snottygobble – a member of the Persoonia family, according to Streitberg.
Partners in L1 and L2 (excluding the Dongara, Mondarra and Yardarino fields) are Arc Energy Limited – (operator and 50%) and Origin Energy (50%).
