He also outlined a further 40 metre oil column that the company believed could be updip of the Cliff Head 2 discovery well. The Cliff Head partners, led by Roc Oil, successfully drilled the sidetracked Cliff Head 2 well finding a 17.5 metre net oil column, immediately after discovering a 5 metre oil column in the initial Cliff Head 1 wildcat well.

Burgess said the possible 40m was in addition to the satellite structure outlined by Roc yesterday, immediately north of the discovery, which Roc said could contain a possible 20 - 30 million barrels in place (mmbip).

Roc yesterday (Wed 16 Jan) outlined a remapped vision of the permit WA 286P,which revised estimates to between 80 - 100 mmbip. Roc also outlined a number of other prospective structures in the permit that it hoped the joint venture would drill over the next 12 - 18 months.

NorWest also planned to continue the momentum in the area by farming into the adjoining TP/15 permit, which also hosts a number of structures which follow the geological trend toward the onshore Perth Basin, where the mature Dongara, Beharra Springs and Woodada production fields lie.

With the discovery of the recent Hovea and Beharra Springs North oil and gas fields (respectively), the Perth Basin has seen a resurgence in the fortunes of oil companies with prospects located in the area. Roc Oil, AWE, Arc Energy, Voyager Energy and NorWest have all seen in increase in their share prices. Impending float Bounty Oil & Gas has seen its initial public offering oversubscribed also.