Geosciences

Dorado co-venturers develop next-phase exploration line-up

Sept. 1, 2023

Carnarvon says five new stand-out exploration prospects have emerged in its Bedout permits offshore Australia, following interpretation of new 3D seismic data.

Related To: Carnarvon Energy

Offshore staff

WEST PERTH, Australia — Carnarvon Energy says five new stand-out exploration prospects have emerged in its Bedout permits WA-435-P, WA-436-P, WA-437-P and WA438-P offshore Western Australia, following interpretation of new 3D seismic data.

The map highlights five high-graded well targets and the related clusters that would be de-risked in the case of a successful well.

Ara, Wallace, Wendolene, Starbuck and Pavo South appear the most likely to build resources around the emerging Dorado project in the Bedout Basin, all with potential for gas to strengthen the Dorado Phase 2 development.

Over the past 18 months, Santos/Carnarvon have added new data to the Bedout database, including final processing products for the Phase 1 and Phase 2 Keraudren North Extension 3D datasets acquired in 2021 and 2022; the Dorado multi-azimuth (MAZ) seismic processing dataset, which combined the Keraudren, Archer and Capreolus 3D seismic datasets over the Dorado Field and surrounding acreage; and large areas of the original 2014 Capreolus 3D data that have been reprocessed for improved prospect definition.

Further information came from multiple quantitative interpretation (QI) and seismic inversion projects, designed to predict lithology and fluid content away from the wellbore through amplitude analysis; and analysis of results from the Pavo-1 and Apus-1 exploration wells.

Carnarvon assesses Ara, in the northern half of WA-435-P, as a 549-Bcf / 91-MMbbl condensate prospect, and Starbuck at 113 MMbbl of oil with potential for substantial associated gas.

Elsewhere, the Wendolene and Wallace clusters appear gas-focused and the Pavo South cluster more liquids-rich.

Discussions are underway on securing drilling slots on a semisub for two or three wells in WA-435-P, WA-436-P and/or WA-438-P, with the timing dependent on regulatory approvals and a new consultation process relating to the preparation of environment plans.

09.01.2023