WHL Energy to Spud Western Australia Gas Well Soon

WHL Energy’s Palta‐1 exploration well, located in adjacent Exmouth sub‐Basin permit offshore Western Australia, will spud within the next seven to eight days.

Palta‐1, which is expected to take approximately 60 days to drill in a water depth of 1350 m, is targeting the very large Palta prospect, estimated to contain upwards of 13.5 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas.

An estimated 2.5 tcf of the Palta gas is mapped by WHL Energy to be located within the WA‐460‐P permit, which was awarded to a consortium of WHL Energy, Strike Energy Limited and Cottesloe Oil & Gas in November 2011, the company said in a statement.

“There is growing interest from the industry and investors in the start‐up of drilling at Palta  ‐  recently reported to be potentially one of the most expensive wells drilled in Australian waters to date,” WHL Energy Managing Director, Steve Noske said.