Chevron hits the spot MATHEW MURPHY August 14, 2010
CHEVRON'S run of gas discoveries continues, with the energy giant announcing more success from its drilling program in the Carnarvon Basin in Western Australia.
The Brederode-1 well, 350 kilometres north-west of Onslow, is Chevron's eighth gas discovery this year, encountering 15 metres of net gas pay.
Last month the company announced another big gas strike with its Clio-3 well, and just weeks ago revealed its Sappho-1 well had found 75 metres of net gas pay.
It adds to the vast resource, estimated at more than 50 trillion cubic feet, destined for the Gorgon and Wheatstone projects, which are due to start LNG deliveries in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
Each discovery announced by Chevron turns the screws that much tighter on its rival Woodside, which still needs to find additional gas for its planned expansion of Pluto.
Chevron sneaked under the guard of Woodside's chief executive, Don Voelte, last year to stitch up deals with the US company Apache Energy and KUFPEC of Kuwait to supply gas from the Julimar-Brunello fields to Wheatstone, after Mr Voelte baulked at terms being offered by the pair.
Mr Voelte labelled Chevron's deal ''stupid'' and backed his company's chances of finding enough gas through its own drilling program.
