Page 11 - AsianOil Week 23 2022

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Sasanof-1 well off Australia comes up dry

PROJECTS & PRIVATELY owned Western Gas has reported The well will now be plugged and perma-
COMPANIES that its Sasanof-1 exploration well offshore West- nently abandoned, after which de-mobilisation
ern Australia had found no commercial reserves activities will begin.
of oil and gas. Sasanof was being eyed as a potential source
The well had been described as one of the for backfilling the North West Shelf LNG termi-
most closely watched exploration campaigns of nal, which may have to shut one of its five lique-
the year so far in Australia, and the result is seen faction trains in 2024 if new sources of supply are
as a major disappointment. not found. The dry hole at Sasanof marks a fur-
Prior to drilling, the Sasanof prospect had ther disappointment for North West Shelf LNG
been estimated by independent firm ERC Equi- following BP’s unsuccessful Ironbark explora-
poise to hold a resource of 7.2 trillion cubic feet tion well in 2020.
(204bn cubic metres) of gas and 176mn bar- North West Shelf operator Woodside Energy
rels of condensate. But Western Gas said that has said it is talking to a number of companies as
the well, which was drilled to a total depth of it continues to seek out new sources of gas supply.
2,390 metres, had intersected no commercial Consultancy EnergyQuest’s CEO, Graeme
hydrocarbons. Bethune, was quoted by Reuters as saying that
“Obviously this is a disappointing result, but following these exploration disappointments,
we can be proud of the efforts of the Western Gas the North West Shelf partners may have to con-
extended team, including our joint venture part- sider using onshore gas to backfill the plant.
ners and well delivery service providers,” stated “Unlike the offshore, the onshore seems to be
Western Gas’ executive director, Will Barker. doing well,” Bethune was quoted as saying.™

New Zealand industry group

welcomes Beach’s drilling plans

PROJECTS & INDUSTRY group Energy Resources Aotearoa, discharge consent to carry out activities associ-
COMPANIES formerly known as Petroleum Exploration and ated with the drilling of the two wells in April.
Production Association of New Zealand, has On June 8, a public consultation into the plan
welcomed Beach Energy’s plans for a potential was opened, with submissions set to close on
second phase of development at the offshore July 21.
Kupe natural gas field. Energy Resources Aotearoa said this week
Beach wants to drill two development wells that Beach’s Phase 2 plan could make an impor-
as part of Phase 2 at Kupe, which is located in tant contribution to New Zealand’s energy mix.
the Taranaki Basin. The wells would be drilled “This announcement, combined with OMV’s
at the existing Kupe wellhead platform using a ongoing investment in the Maui field and
jack-up mobile offshore drilling unit. Subject to planned appraisal drilling of Toutouwai, will be
rig availability, weather conditions and regula- welcome news for our major export businesses
tory approvals, the project could kick off in late and households that depend upon an affordable
2022 or early 2023. and reliable supply of natural gas,” stated Energy
The Kupe field’s proven and probable (2P) Resources Aotearoa’s CEO, John Carnegie.
reserves were upgraded in 2020 from 1.8mn “Despite some regulatory challenges in the
barrels of oil equivalent to 2.3mn boe. Following energy sector, one thing is clear: there is and will
completion of an inlet compression project last continue to be demand for low-emission natural
year, the field’s production is expected to plateau gas to power our economy and our transition.”
at 77 terajoules (12,586 boe) per day. However, Beach has previously said gas produced from
a second phase of development could raise that Kupe meets 10-15% of New Zealand’s annual
rate. natural gas demand and 50% of its liquefied
Beach applied for marine consent and marine petroleum gas (LPG) demand.™

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