Santos announced yesterday that Mittwell Energy Resources Pty Ltd, already a joint venture partner in the $200 million Casino gas development, has now taken a 25% equity interest in the VIC/P51 exploration permit area. The other partner in the permit is Inpex Alpha, also a Japanese subsidiary.
The Callister-1 exploration well, which spudded on Wednesday last week (October 13th), is being drilled in by the deepwater rig, Jack Bates, which arrived on location last week, after a 7 week voyage from Norway.
The Mittwell farm-in agreement is subject to approval by relevant authorities.
The VIC/P51 permit covers an area of over 2600 square kilometres. It lies adjacent to the Casino gas development in VIC/P44 and the deepwater exploration permit VIC/P52.
The VIC/P52 permit is the location for Santos’ frontier exploration well, Amrit-1, which will be drilled immediately following the Callister-1 well.
“We are pleased to welcome Mittwell as a partner in a part our extensive Otway Basin exploration program,” Santos’ managing director, John Ellice-Flint, said today.
Interests in VIC/P51 are Santos 55%, Inpex Alpha 20% and Mitwell 25%.
