The well, which will target the ‘La Rocca’ prospect, had been slated to commence drilling as early as mid-February but has been delayed due to significant cyclone activity in the North West Shelf area during the first quarter of 2011, according to the company.
The WA-388-P permit is located north of the Pluto, Wheatstone, Gorgon and North West Shelf project fields, offshore Western Australia.
The WA-388-P permit contains a portfolio of play types and seven prospects have been identified ranging in potential size from 0.3 to 2.8 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of prospective gas resource (recoverable best estimate, 100% basis).
Seismic amplitude anomalies evident in the 3D seismic data are likely Direct Hydrocarbon Indicators, suggesting the presence of gas by analogy with nearby fields and discoveries.
Apache holds a 40% in the Western Australian permit.
