Shell Australia reported a gas-condensate discovery from Bratwurst-1 wildcat in the Browse basin offshore Western Australia.
Bratwurst-1 is in Shell’s 100%-owned and operated Ashmore Cartier permit AC/P64, which lies 160km northeast of the company’s Prelude floating LNG facility.
Shell called the find “significant,” but released no further details of the drilling results. However, its relatively close proximity to Prelude is likely to offer tie-in potential should appraisal drilling prove to be successful.
Shell also has the nearby Crux field in AC/P23 (originally discovered by Nexus Energy in 2000) earmarked as backfill for Prelude.
Crux has an estimated resource of 2 tcf of gas and 66 million bbl of condensate. An investment decision is expected this year.
Shell holds 82% of Crux with Seven Group Holding’s subsidiary SGH Energy holding 15% and Osaka Gas 3%.
The new Bratwurst find adds to Shell’s growing list of gas interests off Western Australia, including Torosa, Calliance, Brecknock, Prelude, Crux, and the North West Shelf joint venture. Shell Australia executive vice-president Zoe Yujnovich says gas is a core component of the company’s strategy to provide more and cleaner energy solutions.
