Drilling of the BP-led Ironbark-1 exploration well in the Carnarvon Basin offshore Western Australia continues, with activities reaching a measured depth of 1811 metres.
New Zealand Oil & Gas (NZOG) reported that in the past week a blowout preventer (BOP) has been installed and tested at the Ironbark-1 well.
The company advised that BP has also begun drilling the 17.5-inch by 21.2-inch hole, following the 26-inch section of the well being spudded and drilling completed.
Cue Energy (21.5 per cent) and NZOG (15 per cent), reporting on behalf of partners BP (42.5 per cent) and Beach Energy (21 per cent), stated last week that the well was spudded at the beginning of the month.
According to the JV, the Ironbark well will test the Triassic Mungaroo Formation with multiple sand objectives.
The reservoir has been explored nearby at comparably shallower depths and includes discoveries at the Gorgon, Goodwyn and North Rankin gas condensate fields.
NZOG highlighted that the primary target is at a planned depth of 5668 TVD subsea metres in water depths of 298m.
According to Cue, an extensive logging while drilling (LWD) program has been prepared for the evaluation of the well during drilling, with the well designed as an exploration well that will be plugged and abandoned following the completion of operations.
Drilling at the well in WA-359-P is expected to take 85 days to complete.