Beach Energy JV makes new gas discovery in Beharra Springs Deep

Beach Energy Ltd., Adelaide, along with 50% JV partner Mitsui E&P Australia Pty Ltd. have made a new conventional gas discovery at the Beharra Springs Deep-1 well in onshore North Perth basin production licence L11 in Western Australia.

Interpretation of wireline log data identified gas bearing reservoir in the Kingia Sandstone.

The well was drilled to a total depth of 4,170 m and intersected a 65 m thick reservoir at a depth of 3,935-4,000 m. Estimated gas pay is 36 m. No gas-water contact was found.

Beach, as operator, said wireline logging data indicates an average estimated porosity of 14.5% (up to a maximum of 21%) across the net pay interval.

Beharra Springs Deep-1 is 450 m from the onstream Beharra Springs gas processing facility. It is also 16 km south of the Beach JV’s successful Waitsia-4 well where the Kingia reservoir interval is comparable.

In addition, the discovery is 15 km southwest of the equally successful West Erregulla-2 well drilled recently by Strike Energy Ltd. and which flowed 69 MMcfd of gas during a test of the Kingia interval last week.

Beach will make a full assessment of the potential recoverable gas volumes following completion of wireline evaluation, gas sampling, and production testing activities.

Beach managing director Matt Kay said the Beharra Springs Deep result is a further validation of the North Perth basin’s conventional gas potential within the Kingia reservoir.

He added that the JV’s near-term plans in the region include expansion of the Waitsia Stage 1 project and making a final investment decision on Waitsia Stage 2 as well as the acquisition of the Trieste 3D seismic survey in permit EP 320 to the southeast to high grade several prospects and leads as future drilling targets.