EMPIRE Energy expects approval to frac the vertical and horizontal sections of its Carpentaria-1 well in the Beetaloo Sub-basin by the first quarter of next year from the Top End government and could be drilling by the second quarter.

It has submitted its environmental managing plan to the Northern Territory government to frac its Carpentaria-1 well in both the vertical and horizontal sections where it is targeting the Middle Velkerri Shale in its EP187 permit.  

It has been accepted by the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security for final assessment and if accepted the EMP will remain for five years.  

It said work will be run over the most promising liquids-rich gas intervals, and data analysis to choose these is ongoing.  

The company said it is "active discussions'' with contractors to frac the well who have confirmed needed equipment will be available. Work will be paid for with existing cash reserves.  

Some 50 sidewall cores from the target horizons of the Velkerri are being analysed to establish porosity, permeability, mineralogy, and axial strengths.  

These will be integrated with and calibrate the downhole log data sets drilling operator Schlumberger acquired.  

It expects the final set of core analyses from the W.D. von Gonten laboratories in Texas in the middle of next month. Then it will commission certifiers Netherland Sewell & Associates to update its independent prospective resource report, which it expects material changes to given the presence of liquids found while drilling.  

It suggests initial commercialisation via the Daly Waters to McArthur River Mine pipeline which runs through its permit and is only 5.7 kilometres from the well. The pipe sends gas to a nearby zinc mine operated by Glencore. 

It also noted a recent memorandum of understanding between pipeliner Jemena and Tamboran Resources for a new pipeline running to the field the latter shares with Santos. 

Source: Energy News Bulletin

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