Central Petroleum spuds first new Mereenie development well

June 4, 2021

Central Petroleum Ltd., Brisbane, has spudded the first development well in Mereenie gas field in the Amadeus basin of the Northern Territory, Australia.

OGJ editors

Central Petroleum Ltd., Brisbane, has spudded the first development well in Mereenie gas field in the Amadeus basin of the Northern Territory, Australia.

WM27 is being drilled at a crestal location targeting increased gas production. The well, along with another development well (WM28) and four recompletions, is intended to return field production capacity back towards 45 terajoules/day of gas from the current flow of 32 terajoules/day and produce at least an additional 45 petajoules of gas over the lifetime of the field (OGJ Online, Mar. 30, 2021).

The rig has moved off the recompletions of the four existing wells (WM14, WM15, WM19, and WM20), which are expected to be progressively brought back on-line over the coming days.

Mereenie field spans two licenses (OLs 4 and 5) about 230 km west of Alice Springs.

In late May, Central Petroleum agreed to sell 50% of its producing interests in the Amadeus basin to New Zealand Oil and Gas Ltd. (NZOG) and Cue Energy Resources Ltd. for $85 million (Aus.) total consideration (OGJ Online, May 25, 2021).

Upon completion, New Zealand Oil & Gas’ participating interest in Mereenie oil and gas fields will be 17.5% (Cue Energy Resources 7.5%; Central 25%, and Macquarie Mereenie 50%)