Offshore staff
MELBOURNE, Australia – BP has contracted the Diamond Offshore semisubmersible Ocean Apex to drill the potentially giant gas prospect Ironbark offshore Western Australia.
Ironbark is in exploration permit WA-359-P in the Carnarvon basin.
Matthew Boyall, CEO of BP’s partnerCue Energy, estimated resources at up to 15 tcf.
“Securing theOcean Apex sets a clear path for drilling,” he added. “The rig contract, escrow funding, and shareholder approval for New Zealand Oil & Gas to farm in have all been satisfied.
“NOPTA approval of an extension to the permit term to allow the well to be drilled is a remaining condition and Cue expects to submit an application soon.”
TheIronbark-1 well, with an expected depth of 5,500 m (18.044 ft), should get under way in late 2020 following completion of the rig’s other commitments.
BP has started environmental planning activities for a site survey of the well location and the drilling activities.
02/13/2019
