Beach Energy Ltd has made a gas discovery at Tarantula Deep 1 in Australia’s Perth Basin, the second one made from the company’s three operated exploration wells so far.
The Tarantula Deep 1 well reached a total depth of 13,520 feet (4,121 meters) and intersected a 206.7-foot (63-meter) gross section of high-quality Kingia Sandstone reservoir comparable to the offset well Beharra Springs Deep 1, Beach said in a filing to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
“Tarantula Deep 1 intersected a gas water contact within the Kingia reservoir, with net gas pay of 10 meters [32.8 feet] above the contact confirmed by gas sampling”, Beach said in the announcement, adding that the well was “drilled down-dip to identify the depth of gas water contact, provide greater certainty of recoverable gas in place and facilitate optimal development planning”.
Beach said the well will be suspended to allow for future development of the discovery, as preliminary analysis of results indicates outcomes in line with pre-drill estimates.
“Two gas discoveries from our first three operated exploration wells is a great start to the campaign”, Beach Interim CEO Bruce Clement said. “The results at Tarantula Deep 1 have improved our understanding of the Kingia reservoir extent in the Beharra Springs area and give us greater confidence in future development and near field exploration within the immediate region”.
“With gas demand in Western Australia increasing, and further success in our exploration program, we see our Perth Basin business as continuing to grow in importance for the West Coast gas market”, Clement continued. “The Ventia 106 rig will shortly move to the Waitsia field to drill the Waitsia 11 development well. Following Waitsia 11, the Perth Basin drilling campaign will continue with the Beharra Springs Deep 2 development well and then the Redback Deep 1 exploration well”.
In August, Beach made a gas discovery at Trigg Northwest 1, which was drilled to a total depth of 5,000 meters [16,404 feet] and intersected gas in the target Kingia Sandstone reservoir. The well showed 20 feet of net gas pay across a 161-foot gross section, the company said.
Beach’s assets in the Perth Basin include the Waitsia gas field development and the Beharra Springs gas processing facility, which are both owned 50-50 by Beach and Mitsui E&P Australia Pty. Ltd.
Kupe Drilling Campaign
Meanwhile, Beach Energy and its joint venture partners Genesis and NZOG have started drilling the Kupe South 9 well, which is the next phase of development drilling in the existing Kupe natural gas field.
The Valaris 107 rig is undertaking the drilling campaign which is expected to be operating at the site for up to three months once the well is spudded, Beach said in an earlier news release. The company said if the well is successful, it will be tied into the existing Kupe offshore platform which is connected to the Kupe Gas Plant. Natural gas would then be processed at the plant and sold to energy retailers for domestic use in New Zealand. At full capacity, the Kupe Gas Plant can process up to 77 terajoules of gas per day, which is the equivalent of providing hot water for more than 1.5 million homes, Beach said.
“Natural gas has been safely developed in the region for many decades, and will continue to form an important part of New Zealand’s energy mix into the future”, Beach Energy New Zealand Country Manager Mat Quinn said.
“Natural gas supports renewable energy by providing a stable power supply, as well as backup power for when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. Our industry is very highly regulated and we have a strong commitment to the safety of our people and looking after the environment in which we operate”, Quinn noted.
