The survey is designed to map the extent of the Moby field by completing 3D seismic coverage to the south and east of the Moby-1 discovery well.

The joint venture plans to use this new 3D data to design and locate a Moby-2 appraisal well, which could be drilled early in the second half of 2005, Bass Strait Oil said.

Any Moby-2 well would be flow-tested and engineered as a future production well, the company said.

Participants in the Vic/P47 joint venture are Bass Strait Oil Company Ltd (operator) 40%, Moby Oil & Gas Limited 35% and Eagle Bay Resources NL 25%.