Santos Ltd. has spudded Pavo-1, the first of two wildcats to the east and southeast of the Dorado and Roc oil and gas discoveries in the Bedout subbasin offshore Western Australia.
The Noble Tom Prosser jack up rig is drilling ahead in 12.25-in. hole.
Pavo-1 is targeting potential recoverable reserves of around 80 million bbl of liquids and 108 bcf of gas in the Caley formation which flowed gas at equipment limits of 11,000 b/d of oil at Dorado-3.
The well lies in permit WA-438-P and about 160 km north-northeast of Port Hedland and about 40 km east of Dorado field. Water depth is 90 m.
The JV believes the trapping mechanism in the target reservoir is a top seal of Hove formation shale with lateral seals provided by canyon-fill shales and is similar to Dorado field.
The Pavo structure is broader than Dorado and has northern and southern highs separated by a saddle. Pavo-1 is targeting the larger northern high.
After drilling the Caley primary target, the JV has an option to drill into deeper stratigraphic horizons including the Lower Archer formation Dumont Member sands and Permian-age carbonates.
The well is expected to take 2 months to drill and test. It will be followed by the Apus-1 wildcat in a structure that straddles the WA-438-P/WA-437-P boundary about 20 km southwest of Pavo-1.
Santos is operator of WA-438-P with 70% interest. Carnarvon holds 30%. Santos is operator of WA-437-P with 80% interest. Carnarvon holds 20%.
