Empire Energy Ltd., Sydney, confirmed thick liquids-rich gas shales in the vertical section of its Carpentaria-2 appraisal well in permit EP 187 in the Beetaloo subbasin of the Northern Territory and is now drilling the horizontal section.
The vertical section reached total depth of 1,835 m and encountered the shales in four stacked pay zones in the target Velkerri formation (Velkerri A, B, Intra A/B, and C). There were strong gas shows and live gas bleeding from core samples, Empire said.
Well log interpretation indicates a strong correlation in both thickness and rock characteristics of the four shale targets to the Carpentaria-1 discovery well 11 km away.
The target shales are about 240 m deeper than Carpentaria-1, which is consistent with pre-drill seismic interpretation.
The horizontal part of the well will target the Middle Velkerri B shale which was the strongest contributor to gas production of the four targets in the Carpentaria-1 vertical flow test.
Once the horizontal section is drilled, the well will be suspended for the duration of the wet season.
In the meantime, sidewall cores and other data will be analyzed off-site and preparations for fracture stimulation and flow testing of the Carpenaria-2H section will take place.
Operations, including the test program, will recommence early in second-quarter 2022.
Empire holds 100% interest in EP 187.