santos and plover

Media enquiries Investor enquiries
Tom Baddeley Andrew Nairn
+61 8 9333 9616 / +61 (0) 419 834 321 +61 8 8116 5314 / +61 (0) 437 166 497
[email protected] [email protected]
19 November 2012
Gas discovery at Crown in the Browse Basin
Santos today announced a significant gas discovery at the Crown-1 exploration well in WA-274-P, located
in the Browse Basin offshore Western Australia.
The Crown-1 well is located approximately 500 kilometres north of Broome, approximately 60 kilometres
west of the Ichthys field and 20 kilometres east of the Poseidon field. The water depth at location is
440 metres.
Wireline logging has to date confirmed 61 metres of net gas pay in the Jurassic-aged Montara, Plover and
Malita reservoirs between 4,873 and 4,998 metres, and the well has not intersected a gas-water contact.
Pressure data has been acquired from multiple points indicating that gas would be expected to flow at a
high rate. Multiple condensate-bearing gas samples have been recovered to surface.
Drilling will now progress on the Crown-1 well to a proposed total depth of 5,200 metres.
Santos’ Head of Exploration Bill Ovenden described Crown-1 as an important gas discovery for the
company.
“The Crown discovery is well positioned, in close proximity to existing and proposed LNG projects in the
Browse basin and other material exploration prospects,” Mr Ovenden said.
Santos holds 30% of WA-274-P and is operator. Joint venture partners are Chevron (50%) and
INPEX (20%).
In addition, Santos has executed agreements to take a 30% interest in the adjoining exploration permit,
WA-408-P, operated by Total (50%), subject to customary conditions. Murphy Oil Corporation has a 20%
interest in the permit. The joint venture has committed to an initial drilling programme in the permit,
including Dufresne-1 and Bassett West-1. These wells are expected to immediately follow the Crown-1
program.
Santos VP Western Australia and Northern Territory John Anderson said the agreement with Total and
Murphy substantially increased the company’s exposure to exploration upside in the Browse Basin.
“The strong partnerships and the material prospectivity in this key offshore gas province positions Santos
very well for the future. We look forward to the WA-408-P drilling programme,” Mr Anderson said.
Map attached.
Ends.