Empire Energy to drill Carpentaria pilot project well

Empire Energy Group Ltd. has let a drilling contract to Ensign Australia Empire Energy Group Ltd. for the drilling of the Carpentaria-5H (C-5H) well in EP187 in Beetaloo basin, Australia.

The goals are to execute a development scale well for the Carpentaria pilot project, optimize fracture stimulation design to achieve higher productivity, conduct a long-term production test to develop a Carpentaria type curve for long laterals for development planning, and commence gas sales from Beetaloo basin into the McArthur River pipeline, the company said in a release.

Empire has engaged the Ensign Rig 965 to drill, case, and suspend C-5H. The rig is an ADR-1500 model triple rig with a 750,000 lb hook load and will reduce drilling time from previous campaigns. C-5H will be Empire’s longest drilled and stimulated horizontal shale well and will target about a 3,000 m horizontal section.

Halliburton Australia Pty Ltd. will fracture stimulate about 60 stages across the horizontal production section using a 44,000 hydraulic horsepower frac fleet.

C-5H will be drilled from the same well pad as Carpentaria-2H and Carpentaria-3H targeting the Velkerri B shale. The three wells will form part of the Carpentaria pilot project for which Empire is expecting first gas deliveries in mid-2025.

Drilling is expected to begin in late October 2024. C-5H fracture stimulation is expected to start shortly after rig release.