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    1. Rigs

    ConocoPhillips lines up Transocean rig for offshore Otway Basin drilling

    July 12, 2023
    ConocoPhillips Australia has issued a letter of award for the Transocean Equinox semisub to drill exploration wells on the VIC/P79 and T/49P permits in the Otway Basin offshore Australia.
    Related To: ConocoPhillips
    Courtesy 3D Oil
    The Transocean Equinox submersible rig will drill two firm exploration wells.
    The Transocean Equinox submersible rig will drill two firm exploration wells.

    Offshore staff

    MELBOURNE, Australia — ConocoPhillips Australia has issued a letter of award for the Transocean Equinox harsh environment semisub to drill exploration wells on the VIC/P79 and T/49P permits in the Otway Basin offshore southeast Australia.

    Courtesy 3D Oil
    The VIC/P79 and T/49P exploration permits are located offshore Otway Basin.
    The VIC/P79 and T/49P exploration permits are located offshore Otway Basin.

    According to partner 3D Oil, the rig will drill two firm wells with options for a further 120 days of drilling. Timing of the program will depend on rig availability; currently the rig is due to arrive on location in first-quarter 2025.

    ConocoPhillips Australia has now started preparing an environment plan (EP) to secure approval from NOPSEMA for the campaign, which involves seabed surveys and up to six exploration wells in the permits offshore Victoria and King Island, Tasmania.

    The latest finish date for the drilling campaign, as proposed in the EP, is Dec. 31, 2028.

    07.12.2023

    Related

    Courtesy 3D Oil
    Location map of the VIC/P79 and T/49P exploration permits offshore Otway Basin
    Courtesy Beach Energy
    Otway Gas Plant
    Courtesy Beach Energy's "FY23 half year results" presentation
    Thylacine field subsea development
    Photo by Charles Knezevic; Courtesy Beach Energy
    Activities will run over several phases starting with seabed assessments, drilling E&P wells in the Geographe and Thylacine (pictured) gas fields, and installing seabed infrastructure to tie-in wells to the existing platform and pipeline.