Santos Ltd. has spudded the Apus-1 wildcat, which lies 27 km southwest of the joint venture’s March Pavo-1 oil discovery.
The Apus structure has been mapped straddling the permit boundary between WA-437-P, which contains Dorado field, and WA-438-P, which contains Pavo. The well lies in WA-437-P.
The well is being drilled by the Noble Tom Prosser jackup rig.
The structure has two potential reservoir intervals—the Caley and Milne sands—both of which have proven successful at Dorado and Pavo.
Carnarvon has estimated potential mean combined recoverable reserves in the two sands of 235 million bbl of liquids and 408 bcf of gas.
Santos holds 80% interest in WA-437-P. Carnarvon Energy Ltd. holds 20%. In WA-438-P, Santos holds 70% interest and Carnarvon holds 30%. Santos is operator for both permits.