Quokka 1 appraisal well on‐track to be drilled by second quarter 26
 Click here to go to the full PDF version of this issue, with any maps, photos or other artwork that appears in
some of the articles.
Kay Cashman Petroleum News
Oil Search (Alaska), Santos Ltd.'s operating subsidiary in Alaska and operator of the Quokka unit, or QKU, on the North Slope, filed an annual progress report that was recently posted on Alaska's Division of Oil and Gas website.
The letter was dated June 27 and was signed by Mark Ireland, senior vice president subsurface and exploration.
The annual update to the QKU plan of exploration was for the period commencing July 1, 2025, pursuant to 11 AAC 83.341(d).
Santos said working interest owners Santos, Repsol E&P USA LLC and Finnex LLC have "diligently worked to continue developing our understanding of the QKU area in anticipation of drilling the Quokka 1 appraisal well this upcoming winter season."
Quokka 2 appraisal well, Santos said, is likely to be drilled the following winter, the 2026‐2027 winter season.
Activities completed or ongoing related to the QKU plan of exploration since 2022 include the following:
*Quokka 1 well planning -- Final well location has been established. Contracting, summer studies work, and final permitting is underway for a well to be drilled during the 2025‐2026 winter season.
*The SuperMerge 3D seismic was received in May 2023. Seismic interpretation of the Quokka unit discovered and prospective reservoirs is complete. Integration of those interpretations into well planning, reservoir models, geophysical analysis, and seismic stratigraphic studies is ongoing.
*Further reservoir model scenario testing has been completed prior to version 4 re‐builds. This work included testing dipping bed angles (up to 20 degrees was seen in Mitquq 1 ST1).
*A comprehensive analysis of the SuperMerge 3D is complete. This work includes internal and third‐party work programs evaluating rock physics, AVO, and seismic inversions.
*A vertical permeability testing program using whole core plugs was completed to better understand the vertical permeability in the highly laminated Mitquq reservoir.
*Completed the initial season of summer studies field work for the upcoming Quokka 1 well.
Ongoing work Santos said ongoing work includes the following:
*The Quokka 1 appraisal well planning and rig contracting is ongoing and is on‐track to be drilled by 2Q 2026.
*The Quokka 2 appraisal well summer studies are planned to be completed by Q3 2025, in preparation for drilling a well in the 2026‐2027 winter season.
*Quokka Phase 1 development plans (QDA/QDB drill pads) are currently being assessed. This work includes looking at various development concepts for the reservoir and will assess this opportunity and help determine its viability.
Future work was described as follows: Pending Quokka 1 well results and assess phase work, a Quokka Phase 1 gate 1 concept select gate review will be initiated. Upon approval by the working interest owners the project would move from assess phase to the concept select phase.
--KAY CASHMAN
| 