Of the 11,346m drilled, co-venturer Nido Petroleum reported that 2900m of horizontal production section was now in place across the reservoir.

As a result, the two wells cover more than 40% of the field width, with petrophysical interpretation showing reservoir parameters are as good, or better than, predevelopment studies.

“Looking forward, the next milestone in the development will be the well testing planned later this month,” Nido deputy managing director Joanne Williams said.

“I look forward to flowing these wells for the first time, and the start of production once the subsea infrastructure and the FPSO have been installed and commissioned.”

The drill ship ‘Energy Searcher’ will stay at Galoc for the next three weeks to undertake the completion program, which involves installing the completions, the subsea trees and control systems.

Once this work is finished, oil will be flowed to surface to clean out the drilling fluids in preparation for the start of production after the FPSO ‘Rubicon Intrepid’ is installed.