Australia-based oil and gas explorer Titan Energy has received the final approval to drill exploration well Warradarge-1, in its 100% owned North Perth Basin onshore license area DR11.

The Western Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum gave its final approval for the exploration well, after Titan Energy submitted the environmental plan for Warradarge-1.

The license area DR11 is located about 280km north of Perth, in the state of Western Australia, and is about 10km to the west of Woodada gas field and 20km north-west of the recent Arrowsmith gas discovery.

Titan Energy chairman Darren Levy said environmental approval for the well is an achievement for the company.

"We believe we are the first onshore oil and gas explorer in Western Australia to have an Environment Plan approved under the strict new regulations introduced last year," Levy added.

"We now look forward with great anticipation to spudding the first well drilled in the Drilling Reservation (DR11), which is located in an area."

Exploration well Warradarge-1 is expected to be drilled on 20 March 2013 to a total depth of around 4,500ft.

Titan Energy is expecting to collect formation cutting samples to evaluate the conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon potential
in the section of the license area DR11.

The well will be drilled to target the proven Cadda Formation and Cattamarra Coal measures of the Jurrasic sediments.

Titan Energy is also applying for the environmental approval for the second exploration well in the area, Warradarge-2.