Beach Energy has announced a Birkhead oil discovery on the Western Flank of the Cooper Basin.

Marauder-1 is located in ex PEL 104 (Beach 40%, Senex Energy 60% and operator), approximately two kilometres north of the producing Growler and Spitfire oil fields. The prospect was identified from the Mollichuta 3D seismic survey and drilled as a vertical calibration well to appraise a potential northern extension of the Western Flank Birkhead oil play fairway.

Marauder-1 encountered oil shows within the Birkhead Formation, with initial evaluation of logs indicating net pay of up to 8.6 metres across a 17.5 metre gross column. A drill stem test over the interval from 1,744.2 metres to 1,764.6 metres recovered 84 barrels of approximately 48 degree API oil.

Oil flowed to surface after 79 minutes and continued to flow for the full 184 minute flow period on a 32/64” choke. The flow rate was calculated to be 655 barrels of oil per day, with no indication of formation water throughout the drill stem test.

Marauder-1 will be cased and suspended as a future producer and brought online in coming months.