The well is about 1.6km west of the Woollybutt-2AST1 production well in Western Australia's Carnarvon Basin southwest of Barrow Island.
Scalybutt-1H will be sidetracked from the previously drilled Scalybutt-1 step-out well which discovered an oil column west of the field’s previously mapped closure.
The well will be drilled as a horizontal production well and should take up to 30 days to drill and complete, according to Tap.
The company estimates that the Scalybutt-1H well has the potential to access up to 10 million bbls of recoverable oil from the northern lobe of the Woollybutt Oil Field.
“The initial results of the Scalybutt-1 well were announced in July 2004, proving a western extension of the Woollybutt Oil Field which had previously been interpreted using the 3D seismic on that part of the field,” Tap said in a statement.
“Following detailed analysis of the core, log data and detailed reservoir modelling from the initial Scalybutt-1 step out well, it is interpreted that there is recoverable oil in this part of the field not accessed by the two existing production wells. Scalybutt-1H is designed to access these additional volumes of oil.”
The partners plan to install a subsea flowline to connect Scalybutt-1H to the existing Woollybutt FPSO production facility.
The Woollybutt field is presently producing around 21,500 bopd. Scalybutt-1H is expected to begin production by around July 2005 at initial rates of around 8,000 bopd.
The Joint Venture is also in the process of planning follow-up wells to the recent successful Woollybutt-4 appraisal well in the southern lobe and considering development options for producing the southern lobe.
Following the drilling of Scalybutt-1H, the Sedco-703 semi submersible drilling rig is scheduled to move to the permit west of the Woollybutt field to drill the Maier-1 and Lauda-1 exploration wells in which Tap has a 25% interest.
WA-25-L joint venture participants are Eni Australia Limited (operator) 65%, Mobil Australia Resources Co. Pty. Ltd. 20% and Tap Oil Limited 15%.
