According to partner Hellenic Petroleum, the JV flow-tested a well drilled in an area known as NC206 in the oil-rich region of Sirte, located in central Libya.
The well reportedly flowed an average of 12.1 million cubic feet of gas per day, with the maximum rate being 16.7MMcfd.
“Studies are underway to estimate recoverable reserves and evaluate commerciality,” Hellenic said in a statement.
The Greece-based company has previously announced an oil discovery in another plot in Sirte, called NC209, and a gas find in the region of Murzuq.
Woodside owns 45% of the joint venture that in 2003 won rights to drill in five plots in Sirte and in part of the western region of Murzuq. Hellenic owns 20% while Repsol of Spain has 35%.
In addition, Woodside has four offshore blocks, won in the fourth exploration and production-sharing agreement round in early 2005.
As a result, Woodside has the third-largest acreage holding of all international oil companies now operating in Libya.
The country, which holds Africa’s largest oil reserves, stepped up petroleum exploration in 2004 after the US lifted two decades of sanctions that were imposed due to the belief Libya’s leader, Muammar al-Qaddafi, was supporting terrorism.
