Both the Lightning-1 and Jindivik-1 wells will test the greater Mirage Murta oil pool concept for a potential 20 million barrels of oil-in-place over the Mirage-Lightning-Jindivik area. Drilling at Lightning-1 is anticipated to start in four days’ time.

“Lightning is also 400 metres from the Sydney-to-Moomba pipeline, which means we would have immediate access to the market if it pays off,” VicPet managing director John Kopcheff told EnergyReview.net.

“We’re hoping for a similar result to that achieved by Beach [Petroleum] at its Kiana-1 well, which is 50km west, and has very similar geology.”

Last December’s Kiana-1 discovery in PEL 107 is currently producing 750 bbls of oil per day from two zones in the Patchawarra formation, according to recent information by Beach.

Lightning-1, in addition to being a Murta oil test, will also explore for hydrocarbons in the deeper Permian Patchawarra section. The partners have said the Patchawarra could contain a recoverable target of up to 130 billion cubic feet of gas or 18 million bbls of oil, if oil and gas were present.

Up-dip gas shows in the previously drilled Burruna-1 well in basement overlain by the sealing shale for the Patchawarra Formation in the adjacent Permian oil and gas fields to the north provide encouragement for the Permian hydrocarbon potential at Lightning-1. Burruna-1 is 2km south-west of Lightning-1.

At Mirage-4, VicPet is currently running tubing to 1419m. The well will be perforated over the oil-bearing Murta interval from 1320-1338m.

“The PEL115 JV has completed the first phase of appraisal/development activity of the Mirage discovery by drilling Mirage-2, Mirage-3 and Mirage-4,” Kopcheff said.

“Mirage-4 has come in high to prognosis, with oil shows in the Murta pay zone and an oil recovery on drill stem test.

“Each of the three wells drilled has encountered hydrocarbons in the same Murta section which is currently producing at Mirage-1. The wells have been prepared for completion, and when facility construction in the field is finished, the wells will be production-tested to determine the optimum producing wells for tie-in to the facilities. This is expected to be complete by mid-June.”

Kopcheff said if the Murta development program was successful, the partners should see an increase in production from the current 400 bopd to a target of up to 1000 bopd by mid-year.

The PEL 115 JV comprises operator Victoria Petroleum, which owns 40%, Impress Ventures (40%) and Roma Petroleum (20%).