Carnarvon Petroleum Limited (ASX:CVN) has drilled below 3,180 metres measured depth in the Dorado-3 appraisal well on WA’s North West Shelf aiming to enhance confidence in subsurface characteristics and confirm reservoir productivity at the Dorado field.
After the 16-inch hole was drilled down to a depth of approximately 2,656 metres Measured Depth (MD) the 13-3/8” casing was set in place.
Drilling in 12-1/4” hole
Drilling is continuing in 12-1/4” hole and this is planned to reach approximately 3,880 metres MD when the 9-5/8” liner will be set in place.
No hydrocarbons are anticipated to be intersected in this drilling section but after the 9-5/8” liner is set in place coring operations over the Caley and Baxter reservoirs will begin.
Details of the reservoirs and hydrocarbons encountered will not be able to be assessed until after this coring operation is complete.
Further coring is anticipated over the Crespin and Milne members.
Second appraisal well
Dorado-3 well is the second appraisal of the Dorado oil and gas field which was discovered in 2018.
The field is around 160 kilometres NNE of Port Hedland in the Bedout Sub-basin in around 95 metres water depth.
Dorado-1 exploration well discovered hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs in the Caley, Baxter, Crespin and Milne members of the Lower Keraudren Formation.
The Dorado-2 appraisal well, around 2.2 kilometres northeast of the Dorado-1 well, confirmed hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs in the Caley, Baxter and Milne members and demonstrated connectivity within each reservoir between the two wells.
Dorado-3 appraisal well is around 900 metres northwest of the Dorado-1 discovery location.
Flow tests planned
The JV is planning to conduct two, and potentially up to three, flow tests at Dorado-3 targeting the Caley, Baxter and Milne reservoirs.
It is also planned to acquire about 380 metres of fullbore core in the Caley, Baxter, Crespin and Milne members.
This will result in a significant amount of new data to further characterise the Dorado field.