Senex Energy (ASX: SXY) and Beach Energy (ASX: BPT) are expanding their highly successful drilling program on Cooper Basin Western Flank with the addition of 3 appraisal wells, bringing the total up to 14 wells.
With its most recent well, Growler-8, expanding the limits of the Growler oil field in PRL 15, it is not a stretch to guess the new wells will do the same both at Growler and at the Snatcher oil field in PEL 111.
The joint venture has already spudded the first of the three wells, Growler-10, and will move to drill the Snatcher-4 and Snatcher-5 wells.
Growler-10 is the sixth appraisal well to be drilled on the Growler field following 5 consecutive successes in recovering oil from the Jurassic Birkhead Formation there.
Growler-8 had intersected a 18.5 metre net oil reservoir in the Birkhead, leading Senex to say in February that it had not only extended the limits – and by extension proved reserves – of the field, but also gave the joint venture confidence in its productive capability.
Meanwhile, the drilling of Snatcher-4 and Snatcher-5 will come as Senex and Beach move to resume production at the Snatcher field after regaining access following completion of road works by Santos (ASX: STO).
Production from Snatcher had been offline since a one in forty year flood inundated the field in January 2010.
Senex has constructed earthen causeways to the previously inundated Snatcher-1 and Snatcher-2 wells and is in the process of connecting both of these wells to a new production facility that is currently being constructed.
In addition, the Snatcher-3 well, which was drilled and suspended for future production in 2009, will be completed and connected to the Snatcher facility for production.
Senex holds a 60% operating stake in both PRL 15 and PEL 111 while Beach owns the remaining 40%.