The project involves using new generation small, light automated Precision Drilling International rigs to drill about 1000 small wells targeting small, shallow pools of oil still in place in mature Cooper Basin fields.
Santos is prioritising drilling in regions with potential for higher recovery rates. The company believes it could get up to another 50 million barrels of oil in this way.
Profitable Endeavours at Tintaburra
In southwest Queensland, Tintaburra Block junior partner Drillsearch yesterday said despite heavy rains curtailing operations this week, the project had continued its run of successes with the casing of two new oil wells, Endeavour-17 and 39.
The Sydney-based company said drilling operations are also continuing with Endeavour-36 and Mulberry-29.
Rig PDI-735 spudded Endeavour 17 on January 16. Drillsearch said good oil shows were encountered in the Birkhead reservoir and wireline logs indicated about 5m of net oil pay.
The well has been cased and suspended as a future oil production well, the company said.
The rig was then released to Endeavour-36, which spudded on January 22.
But heavy rains meant current operations were waiting on improved conditions prior to drilling through the surface casing shoe at 221m.
Rig PDI-724 spudded the Endeavour-39 oil development well on January 12 with oil shows encountered in the Birkhead Formation.
Two 9m cores were cut and recovered over the Birkhead reservoir interval and wireline logs indicated about 6m of net oil pay in the well.
Drillsearch said Endeavour-39 has now been cased and suspended as a future oil production well with the cores retrieved set to be used in reservoir studies.
The company said the planned rig move to the Mulberry-29 location has been slowed because of wet roads. It will be moved as soon as conditions have improved.
Operator Santos holds an 89% stake in the Tintaburra Block, while Drillsearch owns 10% and CPC Energy has the remaining 1%.
Another Nockatunga well ticked off
Meanwhile, junior partner Magellan Petroleum Australia yesterday said the Thungo-10 development well in the Nockatunga Block, southwest Queensland’s has been cased and suspended as a future oil producer.
The 11-well campaign in this area comprises two near-field exploration wells, five appraisal wells and four development wells to be drilled back-to-back by Santos as operator using PDI rig 721.
Thungo-10, in production licence PL51, spudded on January 15 and was drilled to a total depth of 1135m. Oil shows were recorded in the Murta Member and wireline logs indicated 10m of net pay.
The rig was released five days later and moved to the Thungo-13 appraisal well.
Magellan said Thungo-13 spudded on January 21 and was drilled to a depth of 56m before drilling operations were suspended due to widespread rain in the region. It did not specify when drilling would resume.
Interests in the Nockatunga program are operator Santos with 61% and Magellan with 39%.
