The well is a follow-up to an exploration well, which recovered 14.5 barrels of oil on test from a 5m oil column in the Toolachee Formation, before being plugged and abandoned in January 1986. At the time, low oil prices meant the discovery was considered non-commercial.

With a planned total depth of 2060m, Byrock-2 will primarily target the Toolachee Formation, with secondary potential in the Patchawarra Formation, in which weak fluorescence was observed in the exploration well.

If successful, Entek will earn 28.15% of production in Byrock-2, even though the final well to complete the earn-in obligation in the whole of ATP-269P is not scheduled to be drilled until next year.

Byrock-2 is the joint venture’s second well in a three-well staged drilling program. The first was Coolum-1, which was completed as an oil producer in February last year.

Stakeholders in Byrock-2 and ATP 269P will be Beach (operator with a 46.95%), Entek (28.15%), Inland Oil Production (20%) and Gidgealpa Oil (4.9%).