In a statement today, Arc managing director Eric Streitberg said the Dongara-36 well was aimed at providing additional gas production capacity to address strong customer demand as well as helping with its “gas management activities, which are beginning to gather some momentum”.

Spudded using the Century 18 rig, Dongara-36 is a dual, lateral gas development well designed to penetrate a structurally high point in the north block of the Dongara field.

It will be drill directionally to reach the secondary target, the Arranoo “A” Member at a depth of 1699m and then the primary target, the Arranoo “B” Member, at 1786m. The primary target is about 746m west of the surface location.

The well is expected to take about 17 days to reach a total depth of 1893m.

Once Dongara-36 is completed, the Century 18 rig is expected to move to spud the company’s next exploration well, Drakea-1.

In an earlier release, Arc described the Drakea prospect as a relatively high risk and very big structure on the same fault trend that is due south of Hovea.