Partner and operator Oil Search began drilling the well on November 2, which was drilled to a depth of 10,630 feet (3,130 meters)  and is now being evaluated to determine the size of the discovery.

“We are excited by the results of the Muruk-1 exploration well, which confirms the presence of hydrocarbons in the same high-quality sandstone reservoirs as the Hides field that underpins the PNG LNG project,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company.

The well is located in petroleum prospecting license 402, which covers 126,000 acres (510km²).

Muruk-1 is 13 miles (21km) northwest of the Hides gas field. Interest owners are Exxon 42.5% and Australia's Oil Search 37.5% and Santos 20%.

Oil Search operates all of PNG's currently producing oil and gas fields and has a 29% interest in the PNG LNG which Exxon operates.