Project Profile
Value: US$250 million
Location: Offshore Northern Territories (AU), NT/P68 permit, Timor Sea, northern Australia
Depth: 61 metres
Discovery: January 2008
Two gas discoveries have been made in NT/P68 exploration permit. These discoveries may support the future gas supply demands of the Tassie Shoal LNG Project (Heron) and/or the Tassie Shoal Methanol Project (Blackwood), subject to successful appraisal drilling results.
Blackwood Field
The Blackwood field is located in Exploration Permit NT/P68 in the Timor Sea offshore Australia. MEO Australia wholly owns and operates the field. Discovered in early 2008, the Blackwood-1 well encountered a 49 metres gross gas column. A series of lugging runs were completed, including the recovery of hydrocarbons to surface by MDT down-hole sampling, and a number of core samples through the column were obtained. Initial gas analysis has confirmed that the gas is relatively dry and contains CO2 levels in the 25% to 30% range (very similar to Evans Shoal gas), which is eminently suitable for methanol production.
Heron Gas Field
The Heron gas field is situated in permit NT/P68 in 61 metres of water in the Timor Sea, northern Australia. Eni serves as the operator of the permit with a 50% interest; MEO Australia holds the remaining interest. In 2008, Heron-2 intersected a 200-metre gas column in the Plover sands of the Heron North structure. Additional technical work and further appraisal drilling will be undertaken on the Heron resource.
Operators:
Herron
Melbana Energy: 50% interest (previously known as MEO Australia Ltd.)
ENI: 50% interest
Blackwood
Eni: Operator with 100% interest
Contractors:
Bond Helicopters Australia: Provide three Eurocopter EC225 helicopters
CGGVeritas: 698 km2 seismic survey in Exploration Permit NT/P68
Ensco: Drilling contractor using ENSCO 104 jackup
Petroleum GeoServices (PGS): Seismic contract