Australian oil and gas exploration and production company Carnarvon Petroleum has secured a Noble Tom Prosser jack-up drilling rig for two appraisal wells at the Dorado joint venture oil, gas and condensate discovery offshore Western Australia.
The energy sector company said in a press release that shallow water depths in this part of the Canning Basin on the North West Shelf mean that the joint venture can utilise a cost-effective jack-up rig for its appraisal wells.
The Noble Tom Prosser was also used to drill the Roc-1 discovery in this area in 2016.
The 2019 drilling program is expected to include two appraisal wells with the first expected to begin around April.
“The incredible Dorado discovery earlier this year means we are highly motivated to appraise the oil, gas and condensate within the structure. The objective in 2019 is to enhance our understanding of the volume of the resources recoverable and move to making a Final Investment Decision for development ideally in 2020, ” managing director Adrian Cook said.