In a statement released by Hess yesterday, the company said the Toporoa-1 exploration well was plugged and abandoned on Tuesday.
PetroleumNews contacted Hess but the company would not release any further details.
Toporoa-1 is the first of five wells the US major plans to drill with the Jack Bates semisubmersible drilling rig in WA-390-P.
The company has now moved the drilling rig to the second well, Dunlop-1, and expects to spud the well sometime today.
Hess holds a 100% interest in the 780,000-acre permit, which is next to the giant Jansz/Io discovery held by the Gorgon partners - Chevron Australia, Shell Development Australia and ExxonMobil - and due west of the Greater Gorgon gas field.
The drilling program in WA-390-P is part of the company's $US800 million worldwide exploration and exploitation budget.
