Cooper Energy announces a 4 well appraisal program of the Butlers oil field by the PEL 92 joint venture commenced on 3 December with the spudding of Butlers-10. Cooper Energy has a 25% interest in the joint venture with the balance held by the Operator, Beach Energy.
Like the successful Parsons and Callawonga campaigns which preceded it, the Butlers appraisal campaign is designed to test field limits. The 4 wells to be drilled at Butlers are (refer map following):
- Butlers-10, located approximately 540 metres south-east of Butlers-6, will test extension of the southeastern field boundary. Total depth is prognosed at 1,659 metres MDRT (measured depth below rotary table).
- Butlers-11, located approximately 460 metres south-east of Butlers-4, will test the southern field boundary. Total depth is prognosed at 1,643 metres MDRT.
- Butlers-12, located approximately 350 metres south-west of Butlers-1, will test the south-western field boundary. Total depth is prognosed at 1,650 TD metres MDRT.
- Butlers-13, located approximately 500 metres north-west of Butlers-2, will test a possible field extension to the north. Total depth is prognosed at 1,662 metres MDRT.
The wells will be targeting the Namur Sandstone which is the primary producing reservoir in the field.
Butlers is connected via the PEL 92 pipeline through Callawonga into the Lycium Hub facility. The appraisal wells will enable development locations to be selected for future field development. Successful wells in the current program may also be completed and connected as future producers.
Each well in the program is expected to take approximately 1 week. Results from the Butlers wells will be announced to the ASX on completion of this phase of the program.
The Butlers campaign is to be followed by 2 wells at the Rincon oil field.