Operator Anzon Australia said the well would remain shut-in until later in the third quarter, at which time it would be hooked up to the Crystal Ocean FSPO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel) as part of commissioning for the Basker-Manta full field development.

The Manta-2A well has successfully achieved all its primary objectives, Anzon said. The well penetrated the Intra-Latrobe oil reservoirs up-dip of Manta-1, with a final log evaluation indicating 32.9 metres of net oil pay and 29m of net gas pay.

The well, which was completed with a 4.5-inch completion string, was production-tested last night for five hours over a three-quarter-inch choke.

For two hours, Manta-2A achieved a stabilised flow of 6370 barrels of oil per day and 4.4 million standard cubic feet per day of gas, without any water. The wellhead pressure was recorded at 1509psi.

The maximum rate recorded was 6443 barrels of oil per day and an average produced gas-oil ratio of 727 cubic feet per barrel, which was consistent with Manta-1.

Several samples obtained indicated the presence of a light sweet crude oil of about 42 degree API Gravity.

Anzon said the quality of the reservoir sands was similar to those encountered in Manta-1, which tested maximum production rates in 1984 by Shell of 5157 to 6369 barrels of oil per day from each of two zones.

The Ocean Patriot Drilling rig will now move back to the Basker field to drill three more wells – Basker 3, 4 and 5 – over the next four months.

The Basker-Manta joint venture is a 50:50 partnership between Anzon Australia and Beach Petroleum.