Cobra-1A is directed at the Iagifu Sandstone - the principal reservoir in the Gobe and SE Gobe fields - in a seismically defined sub-thrust prospect.

Oil Search said Cobra-1 is the first well in Papua New Guinea to target a sub-thrust play as the primary target.

Participants in the Cobra-1A are operators Oil Search (62.556%), Murray Petroleum (26.497%) and Cue Energy (10.947%).

Meanwhile, Oil Search's NW Paua-1 ST3 well is at 3085m of its total planned depth of 3600m.

During the week a 7-5/8 inch liner was run to a depth of 3047m and cemented in place.

The well targets the Toro and Digimu sandstones in a more optimal location on the known hanging-wall structure than the Paua-1x well that was drilled in the mid 1990s, according to Oil Search.

Participants in NW Paua are Oil Search at 52.5% and ExxonMobil at 47.5%.