Rick Wilkinson
OGJ Correspondent
MELBOURNE, Feb. 12 -- Nexus Energy Ltd., Melbourne, has extended the scope of its Crux gas-condensate field on Permit AC/P23 in the Browse basin off Western Australia with success in its Crux-4 appraisal well.
The well has intersected a 110-m, high-quality net gas-bearing sand within a gross reservoir interval of 190 m.
The well confirms the Crux reservoir extends into the previously undrilled southeast sector of the structure.
The well intersected the top gas sand at the highest point seen in the field so far—20 m above the highest point seen in Crux-3 drilled in January.
This means the top sand is more than 310 m above the field-wide gas-water contact and the largest gas column seen in the field to date.
Nexus said pressure measurements confirm the reservoir penetrated in Crux-4 is in contact with the gas column drilled in the core area of the field and that it is likely to have the same gas-water contact.
The company reports that this result has significant implications for further field appraisal as well as upgrading near-field exploration prospects such as the nearby Auriga structure in the same permit.
Crux-4 will now be drilled ahead to a planned TD of 3,958 m before being suspended as a future production well.
Nexus has 85% interest in Permit AC/P23; Osaka Gas holds the remainder.
On completion of Crux-3, the next well to be drilled will be Libra-1 on adjoining Permit AC/P41.
