Beach Energy connects two new wells to Otway Gas Plant

Australian oil and gas company Beach Energy has connected two new wells to its Otway Basin development, now delivering additional gas into the Australian East Coast gas market.

At the start of 2022, Beach Energy confirmed that the first two wells of its offshore Otway Basin campaign – Geographe 4 and 5 – had been connected to the Otway Gas Plant and started delivering gas into the East Coast market, following the completion of the commissioning phase.

In a statement issued on 17 May, the company reported that it had connected the Thylacine North 1 and 2 development wells to the plant.

Four of the six Otway development wells that were drilled as part of the major drilling campaign last year are now connected and have increased well deliverability for the Otway Gas Plant.

The company said it was currently reviewing its preferred approach to connect the final two wells, which will require either the repair or replacement of a flowline. An update is set to be provided following the completion of this review.

“Delivering gas from the Thylacine North wells represents an important step for the Otway Basin project and allows us to deliver much needed gas to the East Coast gas market,” said Beach Energy’s CEO Morné Engelbrecht.

“Delivery of this new gas to homes and businesses was underpinned by Beach’s first extended offshore drilling campaign, completed in July 2022. The seven-well program was the largest in the Otway Basin’s history and delivered one new gas discovery and six development wells.”

The Otway Basin is approximately 500 kilometers long from Cape Jaffa in South Australia to northwest Tasmania, covering both onshore and offshore.

Using Diamond Offshore’s Ocean Onyx semi-submersible rig, the drilling started in February 2021 and concluded with the final well of the campaign, Thylacine North 2, which was completed in July 2022.

At the beginning of the year, the Australian company revealed where it stands with the Otway Gas Plant development and what is the schedule.