Energy Resources plans appraisal wells on Lockyer Deep permits
Energy Resources Ltd. and Norwest Energy Ltd. will execute a two-well appraisal program following record gas flows at the Lockyer Deep discovery onshore North Perth basin.
The joint venture completed analysis of data gathered during the March Lockyer Deep-1 drilling and testing program, which produced an absolute open flow rate (unconstrained by tubing) estimated at 190 MMcfd, Norwest said.
Analysis suggests a 70-110 bcf gas-in-place resource within the well test maximum radius of investigation which represents an area of about 3 sq km around Lockyer Deep-1.
A two-well back-to-back drilling program across the Lockyer Deep/North Erregulla Deep structure is expected to begin in fourth-quarter 2022.
North Erregulla Deep-1 (NED-1) has been designed to test the structural high located about 8.5 km southeast of Lockyer Deep-1. NED-1 is considered an exploration well rather than appraisal because of the distance from the recent discovery and the possibility of fault compartmentalization between the two well locations.
Lockyer-2 will be down-dip and northeast of Lockyer Deep-1. It is designed to determine the down-dip presence of gas within the Kingia formation reservoir.
Lockyer-3 and Lockyer-4 are also in the planning stages. Final locations and timing of the wells will be confirmed based on results of the forthcoming program, the company said.
A 385-sq km Rocco 3D seismic survey—planned to begin in December and take 4 months to complete—is expected to provide high-resolution and high-quality subsurface views of the Lockyer Deep discovery to be used as a guide for later appraisal and development drilling, as well as reserves evaluation and development planning.
Data from the Ringneck 2D seismic program completed in March are being processed. Results, expected in September, will support the coming drilling program prior to completion of the Rocco 3D survey, Norwest said.
The Lockyer Deep/North Erregulla prospects are spread across contiguous permits EP 368 and EP 426, both operated by Energy Resources. In EP 368 Energy Resources has 80% with Norwest 20%. In EP 426 Energy Resources has 77.78% and Norwest 22.22%.