Australia
Explorers are close to final approval to drill an extended-reach exploratory well from land to evaluate an offshore prospect in the Exmouth sub-basin of the Carnarvon basin.
A group led by Victoria Petroleum NL, Perth, is to drill White Opal-1 on 1,093-sq-km EP 325. The block lies mostly offshore along Northwest Cape and southwest of Barrow Island.
The 9,500-ft wildcat, to spud in March, is to evaluate a Triassic prospect interpreted by previous operator Mobil. Drill pad is on the US Holt Naval Base. The project outlasted 4 years of environmental challenge.
Cuba
Petrobras International SA's Brasoil is to begin exploratory drilling later this year on 3,000-sq-km Block L off the northern coast of central Cuba, pending environmental approvals.
The first well will go to 10,000 ft on an 80-sq-km structure. It will be drilled from Felipe El Grande cayo using a land rig. Surrounding water on the block is 15 to 1,300 ft deep.
The cayo is on the southwestern edge of Great Bahamas Bank and more than 150 miles east of Cuba's main oil producing area at Varadero.
