Joint venture partner Cue Energy Resources told the ASX that on Friday, the well had reached a depth of 1705m and operator Oil Search was preparing to drill ahead in a 12.25-inch hole.

At the time, Santos was also running into the hole to cut the first core at the top of the Kujung limestone objective.

Oil Search is operator of the SE Gobe unit and holds a 52.9% stake, while Southern Highlands Petroleum (23.69%), Santos (9.39%) and Ampolex (5.95%) are also partners.

In other news, Cue reported the Jeruk-3 sidetrack well, offshore East Java, had reached a measure depth of 2685m. After conditioning mud at this depth, operator Santos restarted drilling ahead in an 8½-inch hole.

Spudded in January, the Jeruk-3 appraisal well was designed to continue evaluating the giant Jeruk oil discovery in the Sampang PSC.

Economic interests in the well are expected to be: operator Santos Sampang, which holds a 40.5% stake; Medco Strait Services (22.5% – pursuant to an agreement with Singapore Petroleum and Cue); Singapore Petroleum Sampang (19.64%); PT Petrogas Oyong Jatim (10%); and Cue Sampang (7.36%).