WESTERN AUSTRALIA E&D ACTIVITY SIMMERING

Exploration and development action continues to simmer off Western Australia. BHP Petroleum Pty. Ltd. and partners are considering development of a string of Carnarvon basin oil discoveries at a cost of about $400 million (Australian). Meanwhile, BHP expects production to increase at Skua oil field, which it recently placed on stream in the Timor Sea (OGJ, Dec. 23, p. 32). Elsewhere off Western Australia, West Australian Petroleum Pty. Ltd. (Wapet), Perth, has gauged a sizable oil flow at a

Dec. 30, 1991

2 min read

Exploration and development action continues to simmer off Western Australia.

BHP Petroleum Pty. Ltd. and partners are considering development of a string of Carnarvon basin oil discoveries at a cost of about $400 million (Australian).

Meanwhile, BHP expects production to increase at Skua oil field, which it recently placed on stream in the Timor Sea (OGJ, Dec. 23, p. 32).

Elsewhere off Western Australia, West Australian Petroleum Pty. Ltd. (Wapet), Perth, has gauged a sizable oil flow at a wildcat near its Roller oil discovery.

CARNARVON PROJECT

Developing Griffin, Chinook, and Scindian fields west of Barrow Island could entail combined total reserves of 100-150 million bbl and support peak production of about 80,000 b/d, according to unofficial estimates.

BHP has begun a feasibility study, expected to be complete in June, with an eye to placing the project on stream in 1994.

Development probably would involve installing a floating production system. BHP also is studying options for producing associated gas.

Interests in the project are operator BHP 45%, Mobil Oil Corp. 35%, and Japan's Inpex Alpha 20%.

SKUA UPDATE

Production likely will ramp up from 15,000 b/d from three Skua wells once a production history has been established and additional reservoir data are available.

Skua is the third Timor Sea field BHP has brought on production. Its Jabiru and Challis oil field developments started up in the 1980s. All three use subsea wellheads, flow lines, and marine risers attached to floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) systems. Skua produces via the Skua Venture FPSO vessel:

Skua is on Production License AC/14 held by BHP 43.03%, Santos Ltd. 33.59%, Ampol Exploration 9.21%, Command Petroleum 9.05%, Norcen International 5%, and Minora Resources 0.13%.

WAPET FIND

Wapet 1 Skate flowed 31 gravity oil at a maximum stabilized rate of 1,082 b/d.

Choke size and pay depth were not disclosed, but Wapet estimates the well cut a 23 ft thick gross oil column.

The discovery well is immediately northeast of Wapet's Roller field, suggesting the likelihood it will be developed with Roller. A confirmation well is needed in 1992 to flash a green light for Roller development.

Tentative plans call for developing Roller at a cost of $120 million (Australian) with an eye to 1993 start-up.