Empire Energy has begun drilling the Carpentaria-2H well in the Betaloo Sub-Basin in the Northern Territory.
The well, located in the EP187 permit, 11km north of the Carpentaria-1 well and on the same 2D seismic line, will be drilled to about 1800m to intersect four targets in the middle Velkerri Formation shale units — within the same structure as Carpentaria-1, but 200m deeper.
Empire said it expects greater formation pressure and a moderately drier gas composition as a result of additional depths with the drilling program expected to take about 45 days.
On completion, Empire will plan fracture stimulation and flow testing for after the wet season, taking its cue from well analysis.
The company said the results would be incorporated into an updated, independently certified resource estimate in the first quarter of 2022.
Empire has also begun acquisition of the seven-line, Charlotte 2D seismic survey, which is expected to take two weeks. The survey aims to further delineate and map the Velkerri Formation across EP187 to provide data for future drilling operations.
