Australia’s National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) has told Norwegian company Equinor Australia BV that it needs more time to decide about Equinor’s environmental plan for the proposed exploration drilling program in the South Australian section of the Great Australian Bight (GAB).
Australia’s National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) has told Norwegian company Equinor Australia BV that it needs more time to decide about Equinor’s environmental plan for the proposed exploration drilling program in the South Australian section of the Great Australian Bight (GAB).
Equinor submitted its plan on Apr. 24 and a decision was due on May 24. The next decision point is scheduled for June 27.
NOPSEMA said the extension of time is necessary because of the size of Equinor’s submission surrounding the proposed drilling of the Stromlo-1 wildcat and the complexity of the assessment.
Equinor holds 100% interest in the exploration permit EPP 39 in the Ceduna subbasin 370 km offshore South Australia and 720 km west of Adelaide.
Stromlo-1 will be drilled in 2,240 m of water. Equinor’s plan is to drill the well between October and May. No drilling will take place between the months of June and September.
Drilling is expected to take 60 days and the scheduled spud date is in late 2020.
Drilling will be carried out by a dynamic positioning drillship supported by three offshore vessels and helicopters. A supply base for the operation will be established at Port Adelaide while the helicopters will operate from Ceduna, which is 400 km northeast of the well site.
Equinor says Stromlo-1 will not be cored or production tested in the event of a discovery. Once the well has been drilled it will be permanently plugged. The results will be evaluated prior to determining whether to proceed with appraisal or further exploration work.
