Woodside has gas find in Greater Pluto area

Woodside Petroleum Ltd. has made a natural gas discovery with the first well of its 2009 gas exploration drilling campaign in the Greater Pluto region off Western Australia.

Feb. 25, 2009

Rick Wilkinson
OGJ Correspondent

MELBOURNE, Feb. 25 -- Woodside Petroleum Ltd. has made a natural gas discovery with the first well of its 2009 gas exploration drilling campaign in the Greater Pluto region off Western Australia.

Pressure testing of the Martell-1 wildcat on permit WA-404-P in the Carnarvon basin has confirmed a gross gas column of about 110 m thickness and the presence of a gas-water contact.

Woodside requires the extra gas to secure its proposed second LNG train at the Pluto project and roll over the construction workforce currently constructing the project's first train on the Burrup Peninsula near Karratha.

Martell-1 was drilled with the Atwood Eagle semisubmersible to 3,330 m TD. The find is 100 km northwest of Pluto field. It will be followed up with further drilling on this structural trend later in 2009.

Woodside is operator of WA-404 and has a 50% interest in it. Hess Exploration holds the remaining 50%.