Woodside makes second gas discovery offshore Myanmar

Feb. 12, 2016
Woodside Petroleum Ltd. reported that the Thalin-1A exploration well on Block AD-7 in the Rakhine basin intersected a gross gas column of 64 m, and 62 m of net gas pay is interpreted within the primary target interval.

Woodside Petroleum Ltd. reported that the Thalin-1A exploration well on Block AD-7 in the Rakhine basin intersected a gross gas column of 64 m, and 62 m of net gas pay is interpreted within the primary target interval.

Block AD-7 is in the Bay of Bengal, 100 km west of Myanmar. Located in 836 m of water, Thalin-1A reached a TD of 3,034 m, referenced from the rig rotary table.

Following drilling, wireline logging was conducted and confirmed the presence of a gas column through pressure measurements and gas sampling, Woodside says.

The Thalin-1A discovery follows the Shwe Yee Htun-1 gas discovery on Block A-6, which lies on the opposite end of the Rakhine, reported in January (OGJ Online, Jan. 4, 2016).

“These results are very encouraging for future exploration and appraisal activity, given the significant footprint we have in Myanmar,” said Peter Coleman, Woodside chief executive officer, adding that Thalin-1A successfully proved a working petroleum system and a new play-type different from that encountered at Shwe Yee Htun-1.

Thalin-1A is 60 km west of the Daewoo International Corp.-operated producing Shwe field, which has an onshore gas plant and pipeline gas export facilities (OGJ Online, Aug. 8, 2013).

With 40% interest in AD-7, Woodside Energy (Myanmar) Pte. Ltd. is operator with respect to deepwater drilling. Daewoo, with 60% interest, is operator for all other work.

AD-7’s area was recently expanded north to the Myanmar maritime boundary. The partners have approved the acquisition of an additional 1,200 sq km of 3D seismic data over the area, which is scheduled to be conducted March.

Woodside is the largest acreage holder in the Rakhine with interests in six blocks, four of which were directly awarded by Myanmar in 2014 (OGJ Online, Mar. 26, 2014). The six permits comprise 47,000 sq km and represent 20% of Woodside’s global exploration acreage.