Apache's Gnu-1 tests lead to development plans

Test results for Apache Corp.'s Gnu-1 exploration well off Australia's North West Shelf has led to evaluation of natural gas and condensate development options, including the possibility of constructing a 56-mile pipeline to the mainland.

Aug. 15, 2006

2 min read

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 15 -- Test results for Apache Corp.'s Gnu-1 exploration well off Australia's North West Shelf has led to evaluation of natural gas and condensate development options, including the possibility of constructing a 56-mile pipeline to the mainland. The well is in Reindeer-Caribou field on the WA 209P permit in the northeast section of Apache's Carnarvon basin acreage.

The Gnu-1 well, which lies in 200 ft of water, was drilled into the Early Jurassic North Rankin formation and produced on test 26 MMcfd of gas and 61 b/d of condensate through a 1-1/4–in. choke with 954 psi of flowing wellhead pressure. Perforations were at 11,259-87 ft MD.

Gnu-1 logged 378 ft of net pay in the Jurassic Legendre formation, the main reservoir. This is 78 ft of new pay (more than previously recorded in the field). The Legendre pay zones, about 3,500 ft uphole from the North Rankin reservoir, will not be tested, as an earlier Legendre well tested 35 MMcfd of gas and 165 b/d of condensate. When developed for production, the Legendre sands are expected to deliver more than 100 MMcfd of gas.

Apache said it plans to develop this field with an objective of first production in 2008. The company has five additional seismically defined prospects in the immediate vicinity of the field, the first of which it plans to spud later this year.

A portion of the gas is dedicated to existing contracts, and sufficient markets exist for the balance, Apache said.

Apache operates the well and holds a 55% working interest; Santos Ltd. has 45%.