Santos making progress with Dorado appraisal well

Australian energy giant Santos has made progress at the Dorado-2 appraisal well located offshore Western Australia with current drilling operations at approximately 2,250 meters.

The Dorado-2 appraisal well, located in WA-437-P, was spud at the beginning of May 2019, using the Noble Tom Prosser jack-up rig.

Santos is the operator of WA-437-P and Carnarvon Petroleum is its partner with a 20% interest.

In an update on the drilling of the Dorado-2 well, Carnarvon said on Monday that the 17-1/2” hole was drilled to a depth of approximately 1,230 meters Measured Depth (MD) and the 13- 3/8” casing has been set and cemented in place.

According to Carnarvon, the drilling of the 12-1/4″ hole section has started with current drilling operations at approximately 2,250 meters at 6am (WST) on Monday morning.

The forward plan is to drill the 12-1/4” hole section to planned depth of approximately 3,800 meters MD. Following this, a 9-5/8” casing will be set before the 8-1/2” hole section is drilled to the planned coring depth which will be above the top of the primary Caley Member section.

No hydrocarbons are anticipated to be intersected in this drilling section, Carnarvon stated.

Dorado-2 is the first appraisal well of the Dorado oil and gas field which was discovered in the latter half of last year.

Dorado-1 discovered hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs in the Caley, Baxter, Crespin and Milne Members of the Lower Keraudren Formation.

The Dorado-2 well is located approximately 160km north-northeast of Port Hedland in the Bedout Sub-basin. Drilling is in approximately 95 meters water depth with the Dorado-2 location being around 2.2km away from the Dorado-1 discovery location.

Following the Dorado-2 well, Santos plans to drill the Roc South-1 exploration well and, after that, the Dorado-3 appraisal well.

Roc South is within close proximity to Dorado, just 13 kilometers away from the Dorado crest. Dorado-3 plans to include drill stem tests will assist with reservoir performance and obtain fluid samples required for the design of the Dorado production facilities.

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