Drilling of the BP-led Ironbark-1 exploration well in the Carnarvon Basin offshore Western Australia remains on track, with activities reaching a measured depth of 4362 metres.
New Zealand Oil & Gas (NZOG) reported that the joint venture is beginning to prepare to run casing and cement.
The JV also continued to drill the 16.5-inch hole as part of the project over the past week.
At the end of November, the JV completed drilling of the 17.5- inch by 21.2-inch hole, while also installing the 18-inch liner and completing the cementing job for this section of the well.
In addition, NZOG reported that a blowout preventer (BOP) had been installed and tested at the Ironbark-1 well.
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 that the well was spudded at the beginning of November.
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 that includes discoveries at the Gorgon, Goodwyn and North Rankin gas condensate fields.
NZOG highlighted that the primary target was 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.