A group led by West Australian Petroleum Pty. Ltd. (WAPET) has made a significant natural gas discovery off the northwestern coast of Western Australia, strengthening prospects for another major gas field development and possible LNG export project in the area.
WAPET is operator of the WA-267-P exploration permit, but BP Exploration (Alpha) Ltd. also holds a stake. WAPET is a consortium of Chevron Asiatic Ltd., Texaco Oil Development Co., Shell Development (Australia) Pty. Ltd., and Mobil Australia Resources Co. Pty. Ltd. Interests in WA-267-P are: Texaco, Chevron, and Mobil, 25% each; and Shell and BP, 12.5% each.
The Geryon 1 wildcat was spudded Aug. 31 in 1,232 m of water and was drilled to 3,515 m TD on Sept. 14. Preliminary results indicate hydrocarbon gas pay in three high-quality reservoir zones and a total net gas pay of 113 m over a 242 m gross interval, said Texaco. The well is the first exploratory attempt on the WA-267-P permit.
Significance
"The Geryon discovery enhances the world-class resource base of the nearby WAPET-operated Gorgon, West Tryal Rocks, Spar, Chrysaor, and Dionysus gas fields," said Texaco. "These five fields have estimated resources totaling more than 17.5 tcf of hydrocarbon gas. This discovery could further support our initiatives to commercialize the Gorgon area gas fields through LNG and domestic gas markets." Chevron added, "This is an important discovery for the joint venture and could add to the abundant gas reserves Australia can offer to overseas buyers in the form of liquefied natural gas." The Marine 500 drilling rig will stay on the permit through November before moving to another job elsewhere. In early 2000, it will return for further drilling on WA-267-P to probe other prospects on the permit.
