The Santos Ltd.-operated wildcat Mt Kitty-1 in the Amadeus basin of central Australia has flowed gas on test from four zones in the target Heavitree formation below 2,140 m subsurface.
The well was air-drilled to the target where it encountered a formation thickness in the reservoir of 109 m on its way down to the programmed total depth of 2,295 m.
Elevated gas readings were recorded on penetration of the Heavitree prior to the test program.
A flow test at 2,144 m produced 500 Mcfd of gas before declining to 70 Mcfd after 10 min. A second test at 2,156 m produced 530 Mcfd decreasing to 420 Mcfd after 18 min.
Comparable flows were then recorded at 2,185 m and 2,252 m.
The preliminary analysis indicated a high helium content in the gas, making up about 5.8% of the flow. Historically the region is known to be helium-rich.
The nearby Magee gas find recorded 6% helium, 45% inerts (mostly nitrogen), and 49% hydrocarbons. Helium is about 30 times more valuable than methane for the venture.
Santos said, nevertheless, it is too early to speculate on the commercial significance of the gas find. The JV is now conducting wireline operations and detailed gas sample analysis.
Mt Kitty-1 is in permit EP 125 in the southern Amadeus about 200 km south southwest of Alice Springs. Santos has 70% and Central Petroleum Ltd. has 30%.
