ExxonMobil completes first well on West Barracouta gas field

ExxonMobil has reached total depth in the first of two planned development wells in the West Barracouta gas field in Bass Strait, designed to bolster gas supplies to Australia’s domestic market in 2021.

The development, in license VIC/L1 in the offshore Gippsland basin of Victoria, will be tied back to the existing Barracouta production infrastructure (OGJ Online, Dec. 13, 2018).

ExxonMobil and partner BHP first began drilling in Bass Strait in 1965 and Barracouta was the first discovery. Since then, 10 tcf of gas and 4 billion bbl of oil have been produced from Bass Strait fields.

The new project builds on more than $5.5 billion (Aus.) invested by the joint venture in other recent offshore Victorian projects, including Kipper Tuna Turrum fields and the onshore Longford gas conditioning plant.