Norwest Energy NL, the permit operator of TP/15, confirmed hydrocarbons at Xanadu-1 after a successful drilling program on Sept. 18.

Xanadu-1 was drilled as a conventional oil exploration well, designed to test for the presence of hydrocarbons in the Xanadu prospect, located offshore 40 km south of Dongara, Western Australia.

Drilling operations have made progress since the well was spudded on Sept. 4. There is still an ongoing evaluation of the Xanadu prospect.

With total depth reached on Sept. 17, it was confirmed that Xanadu-1 had intersected hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs demonstrated by elevated gas readings, oil shows, fluorescence and cut-fluorescence whilst drilling reservoir sections.

Drilling results were sufficient for the TP/15 joint venture (JV) to commit to running a wireline logging suite that includes pressure testing and fluid sampling. Logging began on Sept. 19.

In addition to the logging program, a seven inch casing string is in route to site from the North West, so that in the event that logging results are positive, the well will be cased and suspended in preparation for an extended well test.

The JV agreed to extend drilling beyond the base of the High Cliff Sandstone to include the deeper sandstones of the Holmwood Shale. Drilling reached a total depth (TD) of 2035 meters measured depth below the rotary table (mMDRT), though the TD was previously 1863 mMDRT, on Sept. 17.

“I am extremely pleased to have these early positive indicators of hydrocarbons encountered during the drilling of Xanadu-1. Although further evaluation is required to understand the full potential, these are excellent first results,” Shelley Robertson, Norwest’s CEO, said.