Project Profile
Value: US$250 million
Location: Gippsland Basin offshore Victoria, Australia
Water Depth: 170 m/561 ft
Start-up Year: 2006
Proven and probable recoverable oil reserves: 40 million barrels and 19.2 MMboe
The Basker-Manta-Gummy project, consisting of three separate fields, is situated in 656 feet (200 metres) of water in the Gippsland Basin offshore Victoria, Australia. The project is located in Retention Leases VIC/RL13, VIC/RL14 and VIC/RL15 roughly 31 miles (50 kilometres) from the Victorian Coast.
Basker was discovered in 1980; Manta was discovered in 1984; and Gummy was discovered in 1990. Since the fields are located on the same license, the partners decided to develop the fields simultaneously. On Aug. 14, 2005, the Basker-2 appraisal well was the first of four subsea wells to be drilled in the project. The Ocean Patriot semisub drilled Basker-2 to a total depth of 11,024 feet (3,360 metres); the well was then tested and a subsea manifold was installed. Shortly after, the well underwent an extended production test (EPT) to determine its commercial viability by utilising the Crystal Ocean FPSO for processing and the Basker Spirit tanker for oil transfers. The EPT concluded on May 14, 2006 and the test determined the project holds proven and probable recoverable oil reserves of 40 million barrels and 19.2 MMboe.
Since the project came onstream, the operators have continued to explore and develop the area. In 2008, the Songa Venus rig was contracted to drill five or six oil and gas wells during the next two years, and a contract was awarded to build and install a pipeline to carry gas onshore. Once the pipeline is installed, the Basker-4 well will begin producing gas. The next development well that came onstream is the Basker-6 well, which spudded on March 30, 2008. The well encountered oil in five sands, four of which had been seen in other wells on the Basker field and one new sand in the upper Intra Latrobe. The well proved additional hydrocarbons exist in the southeastern extension of the Basker field. The well was tied-back to the FPSO in July 2008 and commenced production shortly after. Development drilling is continuing on the Basker-7 well at a depth of 11,604 feet (3,537 metres). The well is expected to produce at a rate of 3,000 bopd once it commences production in 2010. The BMG project commenced production on Dec. 17, 2006 and has an estimated field life of 17 years. At peak production, the project is expected to produce roughly 30 to 35 Mbopd. Beach Energy used to hold the balance of the interest in the joint venture with 35% but announced in April 2016 that they wish to withdraw from the project due to the current oil price environment - giving all its interest to Cooper Energy.
Operator:
Cooper Energy Limited (Cooper Energy): Operator with 100% interest
(Beach Energy Limited gave its 35% interest to Cooper Energy - effective date of 27 October 2016)
Contractors:
Diamond Offshore: Drilling contractor
Songa Offshore: Drilling rig contractor