By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, May 24 -- BHP Billiton and Houston-based independent Apache Corp. reported an oil discovery with their Stickle-1 well drilled within the WA-12-R retention lease in the Exmouth subbasin of the Carnarvon basin off Western Australia.
Stickle-1, which was drilled to 5,407 ft MD in 640 ft of water, found an 88 ft oil column in the Pyrenees member of the Cretaceous age Barrow group, Apache said.
The well lies about 3 miles east of Apache's Ravensworth oil discovery and 1.7 miles east of the company's Crosby discovery, both of which were drilled last year.
The oil pay was confirmed by logs, pressure readings, and wireline oil recovery, Apache said. Apache added it will forego the expense of testing this latest discovery, as reservoir characteristics of the Barrow group are well known in the area.
Apache CEO and Pres. G. Steven Farris said that the partners plan to drill a fourth exploration well, the Harrison-1, along with appraisal wells around Ravensworth, Crosby, and Stickle during the remainder of the quarter.
Operator BHP holds a 71.43% interest in the discovery; Apache holds the remainder.