Arc said it had identified a 26 metre payzone, probably of oil, from the deviated Hovea-3 well, after cutting three cores. It said confirmation of the length of the column, hydrocarbon type and reservoir quality will only be possible after the cores have been examined in detail and wireline logs have been run at the completion of the well.
Arc said due to difficulties in maintaining the angle of the hole whilst achieving acceptable drilling rates, the Dongara Sandstone intersection is only some 190 metres from the Dongara Sandstone intersection in Hovea-1, as opposed to around 310 metres as initially intended.
The partners (ARC and Origin Energy 50%) will now drill ahead to the High Cliff Sandstone secondary target which was established as gas bearing in Hovea 2. This is expected to take 3 days.
