Wireline logs indicated the well failed to encounter any hydrocarbons in all the objective horizons - the primary target Namur Sandstone and the secondary targets Birkhead and Poolowanna Formations - and the Ensign Rig 30 has since been released to drill the Westall-1 exploration well.

The two companies have yet to record a commercially successful exploration well in the current 11-well back to back drilling program in PEL 92.

Stenhouse-1 was plugged and abandoned after logs confirmed the primary Namur Sandstone target formation was saturated with water, though Beach said the hydrocarbon shows demonstrated that hydrocarbons had migrated to that part of the permit, while Parham-1 was abandoned as a duster.

This contrasts with the three successful development wells - Parsons-3, Parsons-4 and Butlers-3 - as well as the successful Butlers-2 appraisal well that kicked off the program, which consists of five development wells and six exploration wells.

Beach is operator of PEL 92 with a 75% interest. Cooper Energy has the remaining 25%.