Operations Continue at Oz Beetaloo Project

Australian explorer Origin Energy on November 25 reported that operations continue at the Kyalla 117 well in Beetaloo project near Daly Waters in the Northern Territory.

The well was fracture stimulated and flowback operations started in early October with enough gas to sustain a flare, Origin said, adding, however, that extended production testing to assess the quality of the resource required a measurable gas breakthrough to occur.

“Our analysis of data from current operations is showing greater pressures in the well than in the reservoir, due to the saline content and density of the flowback fluid,” Origin general manager Tracey Boyes said. “It is not unusual in shale plays for the salinity and density of the flowback fluid to increase as salt easily migrates from the surrounding formation.”

The company said that work both on and off site would now focus on continuing to flow back the well while planning this additional work, likely to occur in early 2021 following the wet season. The option to temporarily shut in the well is being considered as part of this activity.

Origin is partnered with Irish Falcon Oil & Gas in the Beetaloo project.