EXPLORATORY DRILLING SETS RECORD OFF AUSTRALIA

Australia's oil industry drilled a record 61 offshore exploratory wells in 1990 at a cost of almost $1 billion (Australian). That tops the previous record of 49 exploratory wells drilled in 1983 and compares with the Australian Petroleum Exploration Association's forecast of 59 offshore exploratory wells. Meantime, BHP Petroleum Pty. Ltd. has drilled a Northwest Shelf oil and gas strike. The accelerated offshore effort in 1990 resulted in discovery of more than 400 million bbl of oil,

Jan. 14, 1991

2 min read

Australia's oil industry drilled a record 61 offshore exploratory wells in 1990 at a cost of almost $1 billion (Australian).

That tops the previous record of 49 exploratory wells drilled in 1983 and compares with the Australian Petroleum Exploration Association's forecast of 59 offshore exploratory wells.

Meantime, BHP Petroleum Pty. Ltd. has drilled a Northwest Shelf oil and gas strike.

OFFSHORE PUSH

The accelerated offshore effort in 1990 resulted in discovery of more than 400 million bbl of oil, APEA said.

Of the offshore exploratory wells drilled, 48 were wildcats, with the rest appraisals or extensions.

APEA noted the discoveries underscore the Australian government's outlook that Australia's current 84% level of oil self-sufficiency could be maintained the next 15 years.

APEA Executive Director Keith Orchison said that calls for discovery of another 2 billion bbl of oil reserves.

An APEA survey shows operators plan to spend more than $3 billion on offshore development projects the next 5 years. That's in addition to the $1.5 billion Goodwyn development project on Australia's Northwest Shelf.

BHP STRIKE

BHP and Ampol Exploration 1 Ramillies flowed 4,036 b/d of 54.7 gravity oil through a 52/64 in. choke with 442 psi wellhead pressure and gas:oil ratio of 294:1 from pay at 8,812-84 ft.

Through a 2 in. choke, the well flowed 6,220 b/d of oil.

The well, on WA-155-P permit, is 3.2 km southwest of and analogous to Griffin, where BHP estimates reserves at 100 million bbl. Together with other smaller finds at Chinook and Scindian, combined reserves in the area are estimated at more than 150 million bbl.

BHP has a 71.43% interest in the permit, Ampol 28.57%. Any joint development with Griffin would call for unitization, because Ampol does not hold interests in the adjoining permit containing Griffin.