Oilex says that 10 prospects have been identified as potential drilling targets from a portfolio of over 20 prospects and leads in its operated block JPDA 06-103 in the Timor Sea and final prospect selection for the first 2 wells is under way.

The prospect inventory includes a number of structures with the potential to contain mean estimated prospective resources in excess of 100 million barrels of oil with 6 additional features offering mean estimated prospective resources potential in excess of 50 million barrels. Of these high-graded prospects, 4 occur in water depths of less than 470 metres.

On behalf of the JPDA 06-103 Joint Venture (JV), Oilex has completed the seismic acquisition, processing and interpretation phase of the work program in this contract area. A total of over 3,000 km2 of 3D seismic data were acquired or reprocessed and all of the open file 2D seismic data in the nearby region were incorporated into the interpretation.

The results of the work confirm the initial view of the JV that this block is very attractive for oil exploration and has the potential to host very significant oil resources near to existing producing fields and the recent discovery, Kitan, by ENI in the adjacent block to the west. The block JPDA 06-103 is the area of Production Sharing Contract (PSC) in the Joint Petroleum Development Area (JPDA) between Timor Leste and Australia, Timor Sea.

The JV has contracted a floating drilling unit which has a capacity to drill in the water depths found in the contract area. It is anticipated that this drilling unit will be available to commence drilling activities in the contract area in the third quarter 2009.

As advised in previous company releases, a farmout program has been initiated whereby Oilex is seeking to reduce its exposure to the costs associated with this offshore drilling program as part of a prudent risk management of the company’s asset portfolio. A number of international oil and gas companies are currently reviewing this opportunity and is anticipated that the farmout process will be finalised during this quarter.

Participants in the JPDA 06-103 Production Sharing Contract are: Oilex (JPDA 06-103) Ltd (Operator) 25% Global Energy Limited (Videocon) 25% GSPC (JPDA) Ltd 25% Bharat PetroResources JPDA Limited 25%

Tags: Oilex