Apache scores third discovery offshore Western Australia with Stickle-1 wildcat

Ray Tyson

Petroleum News Houston correspondent

For the third time in 10 months, Houston, Texas-based independent Apache says it discovered oil in the Exmouth play offshore Western Australia.

The Stickle-1 wildcat, drilled to a measured depth of 5,407 feet, encountered an 88-foot oil column in the Pyrenees member of the Cretaceous-age Barrow group, Apache said May 19, adding that the pay was confirmed by logs, pressure readings and wireline oil recovery.

Apache said it would forego the expense of testing the latest discovery because reservoir characteristics of the Barrow group are well known in the area. The company noted the discovery is compares to the two earlier finds.

“With the added success of the Stickle-1 to our two discoveries last year, the area has become a significant part of our future plans to grow Australia,” said Steve Farris, Apache’s chief executive officer.

He said Apache intends to drill a fourth exploration well, the Harrison-1, along with appraisal wells around the Ravensworth, Crosby and Stickle discoveries during the remainder of the quarter.

The Stickle-1 was drilled in 640 feet of water about 28 miles north of Exmouth. It is about three miles east of Ravensworth and 1.7 miles east of the Crosby.

Apache owns a 28.57 percent working interest in the discovery. Australia’s BHP Billiton, the operator, holds a 71.43 percent working interest.