Bhp Bets Big On Timor Sea Wildcat

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday September 21, 1989

By BRUCE HEXTALL Resources Writer

BHP Petroleum has taken its biggest ever punt in the Timor Sea with its latest wildcat well, Discorbis-1.

The well, in the AC/P3 permit area about 160 kilometres south-west of the producing Jabiru oilfield and 700 kilometres west of Darwin, will test one of the largest structures identified to date in the Timor Sea.

"There's certainly the possibility of a big discovery, but there's also tremendous risks involved," said Mr John Froning, BHP Petroleum's northern Australia exploration manager.

Mr Froning said the structure was between two and three times the size of the Jabiru discovery, which gave BHP its initial success in the Timor Sea in the mid-1980s and has produced more than 30 million barrels of oil.

Discorbis-1 was drilling at 2,792 metres yesterday and is expected to reach its target depth of 4,100 metres by the end of next month.

The well is part of the largest exploration effort undertaken to date in the Timor Sea. The increased effort has been inspired by the need to fulfil work obligations before the expiry of permits.

The AC/P3 permit expires in November but the drilling of Discorbis will allow BHP Petroleum and its co-venturers to retain control of half the permit area. BHP, the operator, has 40 per cent, CRA Ltd has 25 per cent, Santos 15 per cent, and Inpex Cartier Ltd 20 per cent.

© 1989 Sydney Morning Herald

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