Australian Comet Ridge to Advance Queensland CBM Project

Australian coalbed methane explorer Comet Ridge has awarded drilling contract for the Mahalo block in Queensland to TDC Drilling, it said June 29.

The work programme for the Mahalo block was approved by the Mahalo joint venture, consisting of Comet, Santos and APLNG, in April this year. Since the agreement between Comet Ridge and Santos was announced in early April, and the budget and work programme approved by the joint venture, Comet Ridge has been preparing for the Mahalo block field programme, it said.

The work programme will begin with the under-reaming of the Mira pilot wells and then moves on to drilling the Humboldt South 1 corehole. Comet Ridge and TDC will be using a two-rig plan for this work which maximises efficiency and reduces overall costs, it said.

Comet Ridge has significant coalbed methane projects in key regions of Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Shardul Sharma