Australia: Next Officer basin exploratory well spuds

Rodinia Oil Corp., Calgary, has spudded the Kutjara-1 exploratory well that targets multiple Neoproterozoic formations in the nonproducing Officer basin in South Australia.
Nov. 3, 2011

Rodinia Oil Corp., Calgary, has spudded the Kutjara-1 exploratory well that targets multiple Neoproterozoic formations in the nonproducing Officer basin in South Australia.

Kutjara-1 is projected to 2,668 m in west-central PEL 253 and 45 km southeast of Rodinia’s first well, Mulyawara-1. Rodinia is operator with 80% working interest.

The structure, 3 by 12 km on 2D seismic, is offset by several other large closed structures that could be drilled if the Kutjara well is successful.

Based on lessons learned at Mulyawara-1, Kutjara-1 will be a smaller diameter hole, drilled with polycrystalline diamond compact bits rather than tricone bits, with fewer casing strings. Eliminating the air pack-hammer drill assembly will reduce damage to the bottomhole assembly and reduce related twist offs, fishing runs, and tripping time, the company said.

About the Author

Alan Petzet

Chief Editor Exploration

Alan Petzet is Chief Editor-Exploration of Oil & Gas Journal in Houston. He is editor of the Weekly E&D Newsletter, emailed to OGJ subscribers, and a regular contributor to the OGJ Online subscriber website.

Petzet joined OGJ in 1981 after 13 years in the Tulsa World business-oil department. He was named OGJ Exploration Editor in 1990. A native of Tulsa, he has a BA in journalism from the University of Tulsa.

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