Spinel 3D Seismic Survey
Covering an area of approximately 500 sq km in portions of PELs 106 and 91, this was the largest exploration 3D seismic program ever undertaken in this region of the Cooper Basin. Its $7.6 million cost is the equivalent of the drilling of 4 or 5 wells.
The survey is largely funded by farminees, principally Beach Petroleum Limited and Blue Energy Limited (BUL). Processing and interpretation took some 5-6 months after field acquisition was finalised in March 2008.
The Spinel 3D survey has yielded an extremely valuable data-set to explore for significant gas/condensate and oil accumulations in sand bodies flanking the western rim of the Patchawarra Trough. The survey also has provided valuable information for future development plans for the Middleton, Udacha, Paprika, Smegsy, and Rossco gas discoveries.
The Spinel survey complements Great Artesian’s oil-focused exploration program in the neighbouring PEL 91, immediately to the west. The 325 km 2D Cadulus Seismic Survey (by Beach Petroleum) addressed twenty leads located in the highly prospective oil prone fairway, extending from Christies and Callawonga oil fields in PEL 92, northeastwards to Victoria Petroleum’s Growler-1 oil discovery in PEL 104.
Following interpretation, between 3 and 6 exploration wells are to be drilled within the Spinel 3D survey foot-print, all fully funded by farminees as part of their on-going farmin arrangements. Beach is fully funding 2 exploration wells in the Beach Farmin Block portion of PEL 106, following which it will have earned a 50% participating interest. In the Spinel Block portion of PEL 106, BUL will fully fund between 1 and 4 exploration wells, the latter of which will result in BUL earning a 50% participating interest in the Spinel Block. Great Artesian will retain 50% interest in both blocks.