Empire shut in the well in January 2001 when H2S was unexpectedly produced during a flow test, thought to be caused by decaying drilling fluids which have invaded the reservoir since drilling operations in 1953.
The new production facility is designed specifically with Rough Range crude in mind, Empire said.
The initial flow rate in the 2000 test was a stabilised 1106 barrels per day (bopd) which then flowed 500 bopd during the 2001 test. Empire plans to use a beam pump to provide artificial lift, however at a reduced level of 250 bopd to prevent the strong water drive in the Birdrong Sandstone reservoir causing the water to ‘cone’ in the well.
Oil will be road transported to the BP Kwinana refinery.
The company also said it was looking at drilling targets updip of the Parrot Hill-1 well which had a 6 metre oil column and the Roberts Hill-1 well which had an interpretive 2.5 metre oil column.
