Exploration & Development

Santos-BP JV awarded permit near Dorado discovery

Sept. 27, 2019

Santos, operator for a recently formed joint venture with BP’s Australian division, has been awarded an exploration permit in the Bedout subbasin off Western Australia adjacent to the Santos-Carnarvon Petroleum Dorado oil discovery.

Rick Wilkinson

Santos Ltd., Adelaide, operator for a recently formed joint venture with BP PLC’s Australian division, has been awarded an exploration permit in the Bedout subbasin offshore Western Australia adjacent to the Santos-Carnarvon Petroleum Ltd. Dorado oil discovery.

The new permit, WA-541-P, lies west of permits WA-435-P (Dorado and Roc discoveries) and WA-435-P (Phoenix and Phoenix South discoveries) in which Santos has 80% interest and operatorship.

Santos said the southern part of WA-541-P is directly next to the Dorado structural-stratigraphic play trend which is interpreted to extend into the new block.

WA-541-P covers 6,964 sq km. The permit is held in a 50-50 JV with BP with Santos as operator.

BP’s other key exploration interest in the region is the Ironbark gas prospect in WA-359-P further to the west where it is operator.