Mubadala Petroleum has started drilling the Sri Trang-1 exploration well in the Northern Gulf of Thailand.

Mubadala made plans to drill the well after it started drilling the first of two development wells on the Manora field in March.

The Sri Trang-1 exploration well is located in the Reservation Area of the G1/48 concession in the Gulf of Thailand approximately 18 kilometers north northeast of the Manora oil development. Mubadala Petroleum is the operator of the G1/48 Reservation Area concession with 60% interest, and its partners are Tap Oil with 30% and Northern Gulf Petroleum with 10% interest.

According to Tap Oil, the Atwood Orca jack-up drilling unit spudded the Sri Trang-1 exploration well at 17:30 hrs WST. During the period from 17:30 hrs WST 17 May 2016 to 07:00 hrs WST 18 May 2016, the well was drilled to a depth of 435.3 metres measured depth.

Tap also added that the well was being drilled in 40 metres of water and it would be drilled to approximately 2,590 metres measured depth. The well is expected to take 10 days on a trouble free dry hole basis, Tap added.

The well objective is to evaluate the primary Middle Miocene lacustrine sands target with secondary targets of Late Miocene fluvial sands. The Middle Miocene lacustrine sands target is the main reservoir level at the Manora Oil Field. A valid test of the primary objective Middle Miocene sands is essential as it will validate the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Northern Kra basin and de-risk dependent prospects immediately to the West of Sri Trang-1. Tap Oil stated that the outcome of the well would determine any likely development scenario, including a scenario where a production platform is tied back to the Manora production facility.

The drilling cost of the Sri Trang-1 well will be offset against the G1/48 Reservation Area fee (~$3.8 million) paid to the Thai Department of Mineral Fuels by the Joint Venture of the Reservation Area in the G1/48 concession. Providing the well comes in on budget, Tap said it would not be required to contribute any further cash for the well. Tap’s share of the expected well cost is $1.02 million.

The forward plan for the Sri Trang-1 well is to set and cement the 9 5/8 inch casing prior to drilling ahead to the planned total depth of 2,590 metres measured depth.