Origin said Arc - as operator - had plugged the well back before kicking off the Drakea-2 directional drilling at a depth of 1413m.

This well is designed to penetrate the High Cliff Sandstone in a more crestal location, where the partners believe a larger hydrocarbon column could be encountered.

Drakea-2 is expected to take seven days to intersect the top of the formation at a depth of 2716m, about 730m northeast of the surface location.

The two wells are located about 19km southeast of the Dongara township in production licence L1, where Origin and Arc are 50:50 partners.