Beach Energy has contracted two drill rigs from Ensign Australia for its unconventional shale gas appraisal programme, which will begin in Cooper Basin, Australia.
Beach Energy will use drill rigs Ensign#65 and Ensign#16 to drill horizontal and vertical wells targeting the unconventional gas play in the Nappamerri Trough of Cooper Basin.
The programme also involves drilling pilot horizontal production wells in ATP 855P and PEL 218, along with a series of vertical delineation wells in PEL 218.
Beach Energy managing director Reg Nelson said that the two rigs will take the firm a step closer to understanding the extent of the gas resources that reside within the permits.
Ensign#65 will drill horizontal pilot wells designed to flow gas at commercial rates, he added.
Twitter