Exxon has more Papua Success
ExxonMobil, operator of the Papua New Guinea LNG project, announced May 15 a successful sidetrack well in its Papua New Guinea acreage, a possible boost for its producing LNG project in the country. It said the well found "high-quality sandstone reservoirs southwest of the Muruk-1 natural gas discovery announced in late 2016. The sidetrack well was safely drilled to 13,550 feet (4,130 metres)."
The head of upstream Steve Greenlee said the discovery "confirms the extent of the Muruk area and further establishes Muruk as a potentially significant new discovery with the same high-quality sandstone reservoirs as the Hides field that underpins the PNG LNG project. The diversity of our onshore and offshore portfolio demonstrates the strength of ExxonMobil’s long-term investment approach and the opportunities that exist to grow our business in Papua New Guinea.”
Oil Search began drilling the Muruk-1 well on Nov. 2, 2016. Petroleum prospecting license 402 covers 126,000 acres (510 km²) in the Papua New Guinea Highlands.
Interest owners are ExxonMobil (42.5%), Oil Search Limited (37.5%) and Barracuda Limited, a subsidiary of Santos (20%, subject to regulatory approval), with Oil Search as operator.
William Powell