Beach Energy discovers gas in Perth Basin, Western Australia

Beach Energy has discovered a new conventional gas field at the Beharra Springs Deep-1 well in Perth Basin, Western Australia.

The Beharra Springs Deep-1 well is in licence L11 in which the company owns a 50% stake. Operator Mitsui E&P Australia (MEPAU) owns the remaining 50%.

Drilled to a total depth of 4,170m, the well is located 16km south of the Waitsia-4 well and 15km south-west of the West Erregulla-2 well.

It intersected a 65m-thick reservoir interval of the Kingia Sandstone at a depth of 3,935m to 4,000m, with estimated net gas pay of 36m.

Wireline activities of the well are currently underway, after which production testing will commence over the coming weeks.

Beach Energy noted that gas sampling and analysis is currently being undertaken at the Beharra Springs Deep-1 well.

The company will complete an assessment of the recoverable volumes at the well upon completion of wireline evaluation and production testing activities.

Beach Energy managing director Matt Kay said: “Perth Basin is a key growth asset in the Beach portfolio. The result at Beharra Springs Deep is further validation of the Basin’s conventional gas potential within the Kingia formation.

“Our near-term plans include the expansion of Waitsia Stage 1, reaching final investment decision on Waitsia Stage 2 and acquisition of the Trieste 3D seismic survey over the coming months to high grade a number of prospects and leads as future drilling candidates.

“The location of the Beharra Springs Deep-1 well, 450m from the Beharra Springs gas processing facility, provides an opportunity to conduct extensive deliverability testing whilst commercialising a portion of the gas.”

Last January, Beach Energy found a new gas field at Haselgrove-3 ST1 in Otway Basin, South Australia.