The Century 11 drilling rig is expected to take about 17 days to reach the top of the primary objective Dongara Sandstone at an estimated depth of 2,132 metres.

Arc managing director, Eric Streitberg, said Bartsia was the next well in the exploration program to be drilled after the recent Evandra-1 oil discovery.

“Additional oil exploration wells are expected to follow Bartsia as the results of the Denison 3D and the reprocessing and integration of the Hovea and Hibbertia data sets is completed,” Streitberg said.

Participants in L1 and L2 (excluding the Dongara, Mondarra and Yardarino fields) and Bartsia 1 are: Arc Energy (operator) 50% and Origin Energy Developments (a wholly owned subsidiary of Origin Energy) 50%.