Manta-2 is scheduled to be drilled to a total depth of 3102 metres, the company said.

“The well will then be logged and evaluated, completed for production, perforated and flowed for clean-up using the drilling rig equipment before being suspended until the remaining wells in the FFD are drilled and completed,” Anzon said.

Manta-2 is expected to be completed by mid February 2006 and the Ocean Patriot will be moved to Basker where it will drill three additional wells as part of the FFD.

Once completed, the FFD will be capable of peak production rates of 35,000 bopd from all the wells completed in the two fields, according to Anzon.

The Basker-2 well, which started production in late 2005, will continue to produce until the second quarter of this year at about 10,000 bopd as part of the extended production test (EPT), the company said.

During the EPT downhole pressure information will be collected to confirm the preliminary evidence which indicates that the well is benefiting from an efficient water drive mechanism.

The production is being exported from the FPSO, Crystal Ocean, to the shuttle tanker, Basker Spirit, which last week completed the first ship-to-ship transfer of Basker oil at Westernport, representing the first sale from the Basker Manta development.

“The sale of oil was the last element within the overall development, hence the entire system has been operationally tested and all phases have performed within expectations,” Anzon said.

The Basker-Manta Joint Venture comprises Anzon Australia Limited 50% (operator) and Beach Petroleum Limited 50%.