Australian Worldwide Exploration Limited (AWE) on behalf of the Hovea joint venture, reports that the north Perth Basin drilling programme has commenced. Hovea-13 started drilling at 1630 hours on April 20, 2009 and at 0600 hours today (Western Standard Time) was conducting drilling operations at a measured depth of 107 metres.

Hovea-13 is an oil development well on the Hovea oilfield, which is located in L1, approximately 16 kilometres east south east of Dongara. Hovea-13 will target the Dongara Sandstone in a seismically mapped near crestal location within the central portion of the Hovea oil field. Hovea-13 has a planned total measured depth of approximately 2,200 metres.

This well is the first of a planned 4-well drilling campaign to be undertaken by AWE and

Joint Venturers in the Hovea oilfield are: AWE (Operator) 50% Origin Energy Resources Limited 50%

Tags: Australia Worldwide Exploration (AWE)