Galoc Production Co. WLL, a subsidiary of Nido Petroleum Ltd., Perth, has spudded an appraisal well in Galoc oil field offshore the Philippines.

The well, Galoc-7, is being drilled by the Odfjell Drilling’s Deepsea Metro I ultradeepwater drillship on Block C in Service Contract Area 14.

The plan is to evaluate the untested Galoc Mid Area (GMA) within the field. If successful, development of the GMA would materially increase reserves and production resulting in an extension of the overall field life.

The drillship has been contracted for the one well with an option to drill a sidetrack.