The Perth-based company today said after completion of wireline operations at Heron-1, the operator decided to not run a 5½-inch liner to total depth but instead set a cement bridge at about 2235m.

As of yesterday, the operation was installing test equipment in preparation for well testing.

Baraka said based on hydrocarbon shows observed in the well and CNPCIM’s preliminary wireline log interpretation, the operator has identified two zones in the cased 12¼-inch hole that are considered worth testing.

These test intervals are 2152-2159m in Turionian limestone reservoir and 1856.5-1863.5m in Lower Campanian sandstone reservoir.

“The main objective of these tests is to confirm the existence of movable hydrocarbons that, if present, may be produced at potentially economic flow rates,” Baraka said.

The testing is expected to take over a week to complete, as the two tests will involve the well being shut-in for pressure monitoring for several days.

The results of Heron-1 and its implication for the prospectivity of Block 20 will be assessed by the joint venture and a meeting will be held in early second quarter of 2007 to discuss the forward work program in the permit, Baraka said.

Interests in Heron-1 are CNPC (65%) and Baraka (35%).