With a planned total depth of 1906m, the well will test a robust anticlinal structure over a basement high in the southeast of the Cooper Basin permit.
Primary objectives are sandstone reservoirs in the Namur, Birkhead and Hutton Formations, which are also productive in the Christies oil field that is on trend and about 10km north. The Poolowanna Formation will be a secondary objective.
Estimated P50 undiscovered reserves are 800,000 barrels of oil in the Namur Formation and 400,000bbl of oil in the Birkhead/Hutton Formation.
The Snowden prospect, which has been mapped over an area of four square kilometres with 17m vertical relief, was assessed to have a 25% probability of success, with hydrocarbon charge being the main risk element.
Cooper Energy said each of the other risk elements, such as trap effectiveness, reservoir presence and seal, were considered to be low risk.
Beach holds a 75% stake in PEL 92, with Cooper Energy owning the remainder.
