Halliburton, Ensign to deploy North American-style shale drilling practices onshore Australia
(WO) – Empire Energy Group Limited has executed drilling contracts with Ensign Australia and Halliburton to provide drilling services for the Carpentaria-5H (“C-5H”) well in EP187, onshore Australia.
Ensign drilling contract. Following detailed commercial and technical due diligence of suitable rigs in Australia and a competitive tender process, Empire has engaged the Ensign Rig 965 to drill, case and suspend the C-5H well in Beetaloo basin permit EP187. The drilling of C-5H is expected to commence in late October 2024.
Of the candidate list, Rig 965 was determined to be the most commercially efficient to operate and mobilize with a strong track record of recent performance drilling similar wells onshore Australia and an experienced crew.
Rig 965 is an ADR-1500 model triple rig with a 750,000 lbs hook load. This rig will reduce drilling time from previous campaigns and run 5 ½” casing. The rig model has a proven track record of drilling wells of similar length throughout Australia. Rig 965 has the capacity to drill beyond the planned total depth of Carpentaria-5H with spare operational capability should it be required.
Halliburton services agreement. Empire has also executed a contract with Halliburton Australia Pty Ltd to fracture stimulate ~60 stages across the planned horizontal production section of C-5H.
Halliburton will provide an integrated services package for the delivery of the C-5H program including stimulation, wireline and coiled tubing.
Combining both local and international shale knowledge, Halliburton will mobilize over 44,000 HHP to execute a North American-style, high-efficiency 60 stage fracture stimulation program including ancillary services.
C-5H fracture stimulation is expected to commence shortly after rig release.
C-5H will be drilled from the same wellpad as Carpentaria-2H and Carpentaria-3H, targeting the Velkerri B Shale completed with 5 ½” casing. These three wells will form part of the Carpentaria Pilot Project, for which Empire is expecting first gas deliveries from mid-2025 (subject to regulatory approvals to sell test gas).
C-5H will be Empire’s longest drilled and stimulated horizontal shale well and will target a ~3,000 m horizontal section and ~60 fracture stimulation stages.
C-5H will integrate the best completion practices from North American shale analogues and incorporate learnings from Carpentaria-2H and Carpentaria-3H. The goals of the well are to:
- Execute a development scale well for the Carpentaria Pilot Project;
- Optimize fracture stimulation design to achieve higher productivity;
- Conduct a long-term production test to develop a Carpentaria type curve for long laterals for development planning, and
- Commence gas sales from the Beetaloo basin.
