Empire Energy Group Ltd., Perth, has completed processing and interpretation of its 231 km 2D seismic survey in its Northern Territory onshore permit EP187 (100%) and has confirmed the presence of prospective target shale sequences associated with the Beetaloo subbasin.
The company said that open file data from the Northern Territory Geological Survey has been combined with the newly interpreted data to confirm an easterly extension of the subbasin into EP187 containing the Velkerri and Kyalla shales that are on-trend and continuous with those being flow tested in neighboring permits operated by Santos and Origin Energy.
In particular, Empire has correlated public data from Santos’ seismic survey and that company’s Tanumbirini-1 well in neighboring permit EP161. Tanumbirini-1 lies 76 km northwest of Empire’s proposed SL-4 well.
Tanumbirini-1 has a TD of 3,945 m in the deepest part of the basin and is currently being production tested following a four-stage fracture stimulation. It has flowed gas at rates in excess of 1.2 MMcfd.
The new seismic identified two areas that are relatively undisturbed by faulting, Empire said. One, the Phase 1 Work Program Area on the western edge of the company’s permit, will contain the company’s planned first well.
The proposed SL-4 has equivalent thicknesses of Velkerri and Kyalla shales at depths of about 1,000 m shallower than the Santos well and has potential to contain hydrocarbon liquids as well as gas. Planned TD is 2,500 m.
Planning and approvals for the 2020 exploration drilling program are well advanced and fully funded, the company said.