ExxonMobil has commenced an offshore exploration drilling program in the Gippsland Basin in the search for new sources of gas supplies.
ExxonMobil said that it was drilling two exploration wells, Baldfish and Hairtail, on the VIC/P70 block, located approximately 90km off the East Gippsland Victorian coast, in which Exxon’s Australian subsidiary Esso Deepwater Gippsland holds a 100 percent interest.
The operation is expected to take several months and the wells are being drilled by Diamond Offshore’s Ocean Monarch semi-submersible drilling rig.
Chairman Richard Owen said: “The two wells will be drilled in water depths ranging from 350 to 700 meters, amongst the deepest water depths drilled in the Gippsland Basin.
“These wells are targeting gas prospects, with the objective of proving up resources for timely development and contribution to the Australian domestic gas market.”
The $120 million investment in drilling by Esso Deepwater Gippsland is in addition to the recent investments by ExxonMobil Australia in Victoria, including then$4.5 billion Kipper Tuna Turrum offshore project, the $1 billion Longford Gas Conditioning Plant and the future development of the West Barracouta gas field.
“This $120 million exploration drilling program demonstrates our commitment to bringing new gas supplies to the domestic market,” Mr Owen said.
“ExxonMobil Australia is also actively considering a potential LNG import project to bring additional supply to the east coast gas market,” Owen added.
Since ExxonMobil drilled the first well in 1965 in Australia’s Bass Strait, approximately four billion barrels of crude oil and eight trillion cubic feet of natural gas have been produced.
