Correct dude342 - only from WHL. For those that dont have...

Correct dude342 - only from WHL. For those that dont have access:


Josh Lewis

20 June 2013 02:24 GMT

Anglo-Dutch supermajor Shell is expected to complete its trouble hit Palta-1 well off the coast of Western Australia by the middle of next month.



Shell started drilling the wildcat on Block WA-384-P in October last year using the semi-submersible drilling rig Noble Clyde Boudreaux.

At the time, Shell forecast the well to take between 60 and 90 days to complete but that timetable was set back considerably following delays due to bad weather and issues with the rigs blow-out preventer.

Speaking at a media lunch in Perth this week, WHL Energy managing director Steve Noske said he had heard the well was now nearing total depth.

“From fairly good sources, we understand the well will be drilling into the middle of July now and we expect the well to be around target depth around mid-July,” he said.

WHL holds a 33% stake in Block WA-460-P, which neighbours WA-384-P and where part of the Palta structure has been mapped to extend into.

The company has previously stated it believes the part of the Palta structure in Block WA-460-P could hold an estimated 2.5 trillion cubic feet of gas.

The Palta-1 well is being drilled to a total depth of more than 5000 metres, in a water depth of roughly 1300 metres, targeting an estimated 13.5 Tcf of gas.

Shell has contracted the Clyde Boudreaux through late January 2015 at a day rate of $417,00 and plans to use the semi-sub in the $260 million development drilling phase of its Prelude floating liquefied natural gas project, also off Western Australia.

Shell operates Block WA-384-P with a 75% interest and is partnered by Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation which holds the remaining 25% equity.