The prospect is on the southern flank and downdip of the neighbouring Moby gas field, on the Flathead Anticline. Originally located on 2D seismic data, it was also covered by a 3D survey acquired and interpreted by BSOC in early 2005.

The semi-submersible Ocean Patriot rig will be used to vertically drill Maclean to a depth of 675 metres, targeting the Kingfish Formation of the Halibut Subgroup – the main producing reservoir of the Gippsland Basin oil and gas fields reported to have good porosity and permeability characteristics.

BSOC said the Maclean prospect had "significant scope for recovery of oil" and the company was preparing estimates of potential volumes for release later this year.

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