Rick Wilkinson
OGJ Correspondent
MELBOURNE, May 19 -- The ConocoPhillips-Karoon Gas Australia Ltd. joint venture declared its Poseidon-1 wildcat a significant gas discovery despite being unable to carry out planned production tests.
The find is in Browse basin permit WA-315-P about 480 km north of Broome off Western Australian. It lies immediately north-northeast of and on trend with the Woodside Petroleum Group's Torosa gas-condensate field and north northwest of the Inpex group's Ichthys gas-condensate field.
A downhole mechanical failure when operator ConocoPhillips attempted to retrieve the liner-hanger setting tool irreparably plugged the well above the planned test interval.
The consortium said the well penetrated a 317 m gross gas-bearing Plover Frmation reservoir between 4,795 m and 5,112 m containing three gross gas sands totaling 228 m thickness.
The gas-water contact was not penetrated, indicating the potential for additional gas below the well's total depth. Estimations of reservoir permeability based on log-derived porosity and four pressure data points suggest the reservoir section will flow gas.
Current mapping indicates the well is located more than 100 m below the crest of the Poseidon trap, giving an interpreted gross gas column for the structure of more than 430 m. The aerial extent is mapped at around 280 sq km.
A P90 estimate of the resource is 3 tcf ranging up to a P10 estimate of 15 tcf of gas.
The joint venture has begun inquiries to secure a rig for further appraisal drilling on the discovery.
The Sedco 703 semisubmersible rig has been moved to the next well in the multiwell program called Kontiki-1.
Interests in WA-315-P are ConocoPhillips 51% and Karoon Gas 49%.
