The Perth-based joint venture led by Quadrant Energy Ltd. has announced that the jack-up drilling rig Ensco-107 is now on its way from Singapore to drill the Dorado-1 wildcat in the Bedout sub-basin offshore Western Australia (OGJ Online, Jun. 29, 2017).
The rig is expected on location in mid-May with drilling to begin by the end of the month for an anticipated 60-day well. It is being drilled less than 20 km and updip from the previous Roc discovery which flowed at 55 MMcfd of gas and 3,000 b/d of condensate.
The primary objective is to assess the gas and liquids potential in the Caley Member which is estimated to have a prospective resource of about 545 bcf of gas and 30 million bbl of condensate. There are also multiple secondary targets in the stratigraphically higher Crispin and Milne members which will also be assessed by Dorado-1.
The structure has been defined by 3D seismic as a shale-filled canyon which has incised into the Caley and Milne sediments creating a large trap geometry in the target levels bounded to the west, south, and east.
The JV is keen to find additional gas/condensate resources that could be combined with a potential development of the Roc and Phoenix South discoveries.
Dorado lies within permit WA-437-P and lies to the south of Roc and Phoenix South.
A significant Dorado discovery could be developed as the tie-in point for the Roc and Phoenix South fields. The gas could be used to supply Western Australia’s domestic needs and/or for LNG production.
Quadrant has 80% of the permit and Carnarvon 20%.
