Exploration work on the Muruk 1 Sidetrack or secondary well has come out successful, with the operator of the PNGLNG Project positive of its ability to underpin further development of the existing PNGLNG Project.
In a statement, ExxonMobil announced drilling results from Muruk 1, located 21 kilometres of the Hides Gas field in Hela Province.
The Muruk-1 sidetrack well encountered high-quality sandstone reservoirs southwest of the Muruk-1 natural gas discovery announced in late 2016.
The sidetrack well was safely drilled to 4,130 metres.
According to Steve Greenlee, President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company, “This important discovery confirms the extent of the Muruk area and further establishes Muruk as a potentially significant new discovery with the same high-quality sandstone reservoirs as the Hides field that underpins the PNG LNG project.”
“The diversity of our onshore and offshore portfolio demonstrates the strength of ExxonMobil’s long-term investment approach and the opportunities that exist to grow our business in Papua New Guinea,” he added.
Oil Search began drilling the Muruk-1 well on Nov. 2, 2016. The Petroleum Prospecting License (PPL) is known as 402 covers 510 square kilometersin the Papua New Guinea Highlands.
Interest owners are ExxonMobil (42.5 percent), Oil Search Limited (37.5 percent) and Barracuda Limited, a subsidiary of Santos Limited (20 percent, subject to regulatory approval), with Oil Search as operator.
