BPH Energy calls for more contractors as it gears up for Baleen-1 drilling
BPH’s investee Advent Energy has invited tenders for conductor and surface casing services for the offshore gas exploration well.
BPH Energy’s (ASX: BPH) investee company Advent Energy has put the call out for more contractors to submit proposals for an upcoming program that would see it drill the Baleen-1 gas prospect off the coast of New South Wales.
Advent, which operates the offshore Sydney Basin project in joint venture with Bounty Oil & Gas (ASX: BUY), has now issued a tender for the provision of conductor and surface casing and associated services.
It follows the call for other tenders in the last month including for the provision of subsea wellhead equipment, materials and associated services, and semi-submersible drilling rigs.
In late May, Advent also awarded Aberdeen-based consultancy Xodus Group a lump sum contract to prepare its environmental plan for submission to Australia’s offshore energy regulator, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).
BPH holds a 33% stake in unlisted oil and gas explorer Advent which, in turn, holds an 85% stake in the 4,649sq km PEP 11 offshore licence containing the Baleen prospect.
Advent’s joint venture partner Bounty holds the remaining 15% stake in PEP 11.
Baleen-1 drilling plan
The Baleen-1 gas exploration well will be drilled in 125m of water about 26km offshore and 30km south-southeast of Newcastle, NSW.
Drilling is expected to take around 40 days to reach a planned total depth of 3,150m. This is deeper than its initial plans, which were extended from 2,150m in April following a report from well designer Add Energy.
In addition to a gas target, the Baleen-1 well is intended to be evaluated for its carbon capture and storage potential.
Advent said the well will be plugged and abandoned asper regulatory requirements once drilling has reached total depth and it has been full evaluated. In line with pre-drill planning as an exploration well, the well head and associated equipment will also be removed from the seabed.