Tamboran Resources and Santos have completed drilling the vertical hole and build section of the Tanumbrini 2H (T2H) well in the Beetaloo Basin, Northern Territory.
The joint venture spud the well on May 11, 2021, with the vertical well and build section completed at 3800m target depth after encountering the Mid-Velkerri B shale.
The mud gas response logged in the Mid-Velkerri B shale in T2H was consistent with data collected in T1.
Tamboran outlined that the drilling of the 1000m horizontal section will commence once the 7-inch casing has been run and cemented.
Looking ahead, the joint venture anticipates the T2H well will reach total depth at 4800m by the end of July.
Following the completion of T2H, the rig will then begin drilling T3H to a similar total depth, prior to fracture stimulating both wells.
Preliminary flow tests results from T2H and T3H are set to be available from the fourth quarter of this year.
In addition, Santos is the operator of EP 161 with a 75 per cent working interest and Tamboran holding a 25 per cent working interest.
Managing director and chief executive officer Joel Riddle said the program at T2H follows the successful T1H vertical well results that were drilled on EP 161 and received declaration of discovery acceptance by the NT Government in April 2020.
“The wells are intended to establish commercial flow rates from the Beetaloo. On completion of T2H and T3H, Tamboran and Santos anticipate the drilling of two additional horizontal wells on EP 161 in 2022, further delineating additional resources, capturing key data and informing future development activity,” he said.
Riddle further highlighted that the development efforts on EP 161 are complementary to its planned work program on the adjacent EP 136 licence.
Subject to final approvals, the company intends to acquire seismic on EP 136 in the second half of 2021 and, based on information gained from this and the EP 161 drilling program, will be in an position to drill its first operated well in 2022.