int oil and gas newspaper -upstream

"Joint venture partner Karoon Gas said that preliminary permeability data from the tested Plover formation interval from 5035 metres to 5100 metres has indicated the reservoir should flow gas.

The outfit added preparations are underway for a new test over the same interval, which is expected to provide gas composition data and assess the level of contribution from this area to potential production wells located along the crest of the structure.

The Montara reservoir in Poseidon-2 will be production tested after the completion of the Plover testing.

The next well to be drilled will be the Kronos-1 exploration well, which will begin at the completion of Poseidon-2.

The joint venture has been advised that the last two well options, by mutual agreement with Transocean, are no longer available. As currently planned the joint venture will drill Kronos-1 and then Lion-1 before handing over the Transocean Legend semi-submersible rig.

Analysis of the drilling rig alternatives available for successfully drilling the resultant appraisal and production wells has started and a new higher capacity rig will be sourced in the short term to continue the appraisal of the Poseidon field.

Success at the Browse basin well could confirm significant resources to be exploited as feedstock gas for the US supermajors Darwin liquefied natural gas project.

The operator could be sitting on multi-trillion cubic feet gas reserves at Poseidon, which is near the Woodside Petroleum-operated Torosa field and in the area of Inpexs giant Ichthys gas discovery"