Appraisal Drilling

Torosa-5

The referral for this well was submitted to DEWHA for approval under the EPBC Act. The referral included supplementary information outlining the potential impacts and associated mitigation and management measures to support the referral.

The activity was deemed a “Not Controlled Action”, if undertaken in a particular manner. More information, including the decision instrument and particular manner conditions that apply to the drilling activity, are available on the EPBC Act website.

Drilling of the well will commence in November 2008 and be completed by early January 2009. The well is part of the appraisal programme for the Torosa gas field.

Torosa South Initial Appraisal Drilling Campaign

The submitted referral, in June 2007, proposed up to three appraisal wells from a maximum of two different locations. Woodside anticipates that these wells will be drilled sometime in the period from February 2008 to the end of December 2009, depending on rig availability.

Each well is expected to take 65 days to drill and 15 days for well testing, if required, giving up to 80 days per well.

The appraisal wells will be located in Commonwealth waters and will assist with the appraisal of the southern portion of the Torosa gas field.

The DEWHA referral document and the analysis of the drilling rig options conducted by Woodside are available for download below.

EPBC Act Referral
Torosa South Appraisal Drilling Alternatives Analysis

The DEWHA have advised that this is a controlled action and requires approval by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage before it can proceed. The level of assessment has been set at "Preliminary Documentation", as advertised on the EPBC Act website.