Oil Search reports that as at 06:00 hours PNG time on 16 January, the Mananda 7 ST1 pilot hole well was at a depth of 2,385 metres.
During the week, attempts to free the drillstring were unsuccessful and the well was plugged back. Preparations are now underway to sidetrack the well, kicking off from a depth of 976 metres.
The pilot hole has achieved its objective of obtaining further structural information regarding the northern extent of the field discovered by Mananda 6. The sidetrack, Mananda 7 ST2, will be drilled as a deviated hole to the east, towards the crest of the Mananda 6 structure. The sidetrack will test the presence of a potential gas cap and is designed to be suspended as a potential future oil producer.
Mananda 7 is located in PPL 219 and is targeting the Toro and Digimu sandstones.