South Australian explorer Strike Energy Ltd. encountered hydrocarbon shows throughout the intermediate section of its West Erregulla-4 appraisal well in permit EP469 in the onshore North Perth basin of Western Australia.
The section was drilled to 3,906 m with 12.25-in. hole into Kockatea shale. Wireline logs will be run before continuing into the secondary target (Basal Wagina sandstone) and the main targets (Kingia and High Cliff sandstones).
The early presence of hydrocarbons is supportive of the company’s geological models and the results are analogous to those seen in the West Erregulla-2 discovery well, the company said.
West Erregulla-4 is the second of a three-well appraisal program of back-to-back wells. They will all be drilled to about 5,000 m depth.
West Erregulla-4 (2 km southwest of West Erregulla-2) and West Erregulla-5 (2 km north of West Erregulla-2) are planned to appraise the reservoir distribution in the central fault block.
They will be cored and logged and, if successful, will be flow tested and completed as future producers across the Kingia-High Cliff sequences for the proposed Phase 1 production operations.
Both wells will also appraise the Wagina gas discovery made in West Erregulla-2.
West Erregulla-3 (4 km north of West Erregulla-2) is planned to evaluate the northern fault block. It was spudded late in 2020 but encountered an overpressured gas column in the Caryginia shale at a depth of 4,294 m forcing a temporary suspension of drilling operations to enable additional engineering of the well program.
In the meantime the rig was moved to the current location at West Erregulla-4.
The West Erregulla-2 multi-reservoir gas discovery was made in August 2019.
Strike is operator of EP469 with 50% interest. Warrego Energy Ltd. has the remaining 50%.