Oz Regulator Approves Shell's Bratwurst Well

Australian regulator National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) May 15 approved Shell's environment plan for the Bratwurst-1 well, to be drilled in Northern Browse Basin permit AC/P64 offshore Western Australia.

The well will be drilled about 160-km north east of the Prelude facility, in a water depth of approximately 155 metres. Drilling is planned be carried out by a semi-submersible Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU or rig), supported from Shell Australia’s supply bases in Broome, NOPSEMA said.

The well will be plugged and abandoned or suspended if further investigation is required. The operational area covered by the EP is defined as a 2km radius from the well inclusive of MODU moorings and the MODU 500 m exclusion zone. The environment plan also covers potential for future sidetracking and/or testing in the event of exploration success.

Drilling is proposed to commence as early as mid-2019 as drilling activities are expected to take about 45 days.