| OCTOBER 2003 - RELEASES |
| QUARTERLY REPORT TO ASX FOR MONTH ENDING 30 SEPTEMBER 2003: (31-10-03) |
John
Doran |
| ACTIVITY UPDATE: (29-10-2003) |
|
KEY POINTS
Woodside Mauritania Pty Ltd, Operator of the Mauritania Area B Joint Venture, reports that the Chinguetti-4-6 (Tiof) exploration well on the Tiof Prospect, in Block 4 offshore Mauritania, started drilling on 28 October 2003. The drill ship "West Navigator" is drilling the well. The location is approximately 90 kilometres west of Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania and about 25 kilometres to the north of the Chinguetti Field. Water depth at the location is approximately 1080 metres. Planned total depth is 2900 metres. All reported depths (except water depth) are referenced to the rig rotary table. Following
guidance from the Mauritanian Government, all wells in Mauritania follow
the naming convention "Chinguetti-Block number-Well number".
Bruce Clement |
| ACTIVITY UPDATE: (28-10-2003) |
|
KEY POINTS
• The Saltfleetby-7 appraisal/development well, onshore UK, is drilling towards the potential Namurian reservoir • Approximately A$1 million received as net proceeds of the sale of ROC's drilling rig, previously located in Mongolia
Woodside Mauritania Pty Ltd, Operator of the Mauritania Area B Joint Venture, reports that at 00:00 hours (GMT) on 27 October 2003 extended production testing operations were continuing at the Chinguetti-4-5 combined appraisal and early development well. Since the last report, the well has flowed at a maximum stabilised rate of 15,680 barrels of oil plus 6.6 million standard cubic feet of gas per day constrained by a 112/64 inch choke. Currently the well is flowing at a stable rate of approximately 11,500 barrels of oil per day in the main flow period constrained by a 72/64" choke.
Since the last Drilling Report (ROC's ASX Release dated 21 October 2003), the well has completed drilling the 5-5/8" hole section to 2,863 metres drill depth ("mDD") and has set a 4-1/2" liner to that depth, thereby securing the main Westphalian gas reservoir behind pipe. At 19:00 on 27 October (GMT) the well was drilling ahead in 3-7/8" hole at 2,909 mDD towards the potential Namurian gas reservoir.
Since the last report on the Cliff Head Oil Field (ROC's ASX release dated 16 October 2003) the contract for the Front-End Engineering and Design study has been awarded to Worley Pty Limited. Acquisition of a 32 sq km 3D seismic survey over the Cliff Head Oil Field commenced on 23 October 2003. The survey is expected to be completed in early November 2003.
ROC has received net sale proceeds of approximately A$1 million as a result of selling its drilling rig, previously located in Mongolia, to an affiliate of the Romanian National Oil Company, for use in Kazakstan.
Bruce Clement |
| DRILLING ACTIVITY UPDATE: MAURITANIA (23-10-2003) |
1. CHINGUETTI-4-5, OFFSHORE MAURITANIA PSC-B, BLOCK 4 (ROC: 2.4%):
Since the
last report, the well has achieved a stabilised flowrate of approximately
12,500 barrels of oil per day and testing and sampling operations are
continuing.
Bruce Clement |
| DRILLING ACTIVITY UPDATE: MAURITANIA AND UK (21-10-2003) |
1. CHINGUETTI-4-5, OFFSHORE MAURITANIA PSC-B, BLOCK 4 (ROC: 2.4%):
Since
the last report, the well has flowed oil to surface during the early stages
of the extended test programme as planned.
2. SALTFLEETBY-7, ONSHORE UK (ROC: 100% and Operator):
At
21:00 on 20 October 2003 (GMT), the well was at a depth of 2,774 metres
and drilling ahead in 5 5/8" hole through the main gas reservoir
to the next planned casing point, above the top of the potential Namurian
gas reservoir.
Bruce Clement |
| ASX RELEASE - PRESENTATION MATERIAL (17-10-2003) |
|
Bruce Clement |
| CLIFF HEAD OIL FIELD MOVES TOWARDS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT (16-10-2003) |
Roc Oil (WA) Pty Limited, for and on behalf of the WA-286-P Joint Venture, is pleased to advise that:
• Consequently, Front End Engineering and Design ("FEED") will commence immediately following award of the relevant contract, scheduled for next week. • The decision to proceed with FEED is based on a proved and probable reserve estimate for the Cliff Head Oil Field of 21 MMBO recoverable. • The provisional estimate for capital expenditure associated with the development of the Cliff Head Oil Field is in the order of A$140 million, although the Joint Venture would emphasise that this figure is going to be defined much more precisely through the FEED process. • Subject to satisfactory completion of FEED and receipt of regulatory and Joint Venture approvals, it is anticipated that a final investment decision for the project will be made during the second quarter of 2004 and that first oil will be produced from Cliff Head during the second half of 2005. • To support development planning, in particular optimisation of development well design, a 3D seismic survey will commence over the field next week. • In conjunction with the commencement of FEED, ROC will establish an operating office in Perth and Mr Kevin English, ROC's Project Manager for Cliff Head, will relocate to Perth to manage the implementation of the Project.
The WA-286-P Joint Venture comprises:
Commenting on the proposed development at Cliff Head Oil Field, ROC's Chief Executive Officer, Dr John Doran stated that: "The
unanimous Joint Venture decision that the Cliff Head Oil Field is commercially
viable represents a significant milestone for all participants in the
Project. From a specific ROC perspective, we look forward to establishing
a presence in Perth and to becoming an Operator of oil production offshore
Western Australia."
Bruce Clement |
| DRILLING ACTIVITY UPDATE: MAURITANIA AND UK (14-10-2003) |
KEY POINTS
• The Saltfleetby-7 combined appraisal/development well, onshore UK, is preparing to drill ahead after successfully running expandable liner.
Woodside
Mauritania Pty Ltd, Operator of the Mauritania Area B Joint Venture, reports
that, as at 0000 hours GMT on 14 October 2003, production testing operations
were underway at the Chinguetti-4-5 combined appraisal and early development
well.
Since the last Drilling Report (ROC's ASX Release dated 6 October 2003) a window was milled in the 7" casing at 2,509 metres and a 6-1/8" hole drilled to 2,631 metres prior to successfully running the 5½" x 7" expandable liner and expanding it through the open hole section back into the 7" casing. The top of the expandable liner is at 2,487 metres and its base is set in the top of the main Westphalian gas reservoir of the Saltfleetby Field. As at midnight on 13 October 2003 the well was preparing to drill ahead through the main gas reservoir to the next casing point above the top of the potential Namurian gas reservoir.
Commenting on the Saltfleetby-7 situation, ROC's Chief Executive Officer, Dr John Doran stated that: "Expandable
liners represent relatively new drilling and completion technology. In
fact, to the best of our knowledge, there have only been about 200 previous
applications of expandable liner technology anywhere in the world - an
interesting statistic when you consider the size and maturity of the global
oil and gas drilling industry. Without the application of this technology
it is quite likely that ROC would have been forced to abandon one of the
main objectives of the well: the testing of the potential Namurian gas
reservoir which underlies the main Westphalian gas reservoir. We still
have some way to go before we will be in a position to successfully determine
whether or not there is gas in the Namurian at this location, but our
basic feeling at the moment is that, while we never like running into
drilling problems, we are grateful that we have been able to find and
utilise new technology to solve those problems."
Bruce Clement |
| DRILLING ACTIVITY UPDATE: MAURITANIA AND UK (07-10-2003) |
KEY POINTS
• Drilling operations at the Saltfleetby-7, appraisal/development well, onshore UK, recommence.
Woodside
Mauritania Pty Ltd, Operator of the Mauritania Area B Joint Venture, reports
that, at 0000 hours GMT on 7 October 2003, completion operations were
underway prior to production testing the Chinguetti-4-5 combined appraisal
and early development well.
Operations recommenced at the Saltfleetby-7 well on 4 October 2003 following confirmation of delivery for the expandable liner required to drill out of the 7" casing shoe. Operation at 1800 hours local time on 6 October was milling casing window at 2,512 metres.
Bruce Clement |