Offshore staff
ADELAIDE, Australia — The jackup Valaris 107 has mobilized alongside the Kupe Field wellhead platform in the Taranaki Basin offshore New Zealand.
According to Beach Energy, the rig will shortly spud the Kupe South 9 development well with an estimated drill and complete time of about 10 weeks.
The platform is 30 km offshore in a water depth of 35 m. Kupe South 9 will be drilled into the Kupe’s eastern flank to a TD of ~3,900 m. Assuming it is successful, the well should increase deliverability of supplies to the offshore Kupe Gas Plant.
Beach anticipates first gas in third-quarter 2024.
Offshore southeast Australia, the company continues to progress activities for connection of the Thylacine West 1 and 2 development wells to the Otway Gas Plant. It has contracted a vessel and placed orders for long lead items and pipeline manufacture.
Connection of the two wells should follow in the first half of 2025. Planning and community consultations for the next phase of offshore Victoria activity are also moving forwards.
Beach is part of a consortium that has secured the Transocean Equinox, with the rig expected to start activity in 2025 and potentially continue beyond.
The company expects to take the rig for development of the Artisan and La Bella gas discoveries, exploration drilling and well decommissioning.
Confirmation of schedules, prospects and well numbers remain subject to completion of seabed assessments, joint venture and regulatory approvals, and a final investment decision.
10.25.2023
