Although hindered by weather-related setbacks, UK-based Baron Oil has successfully finished a geophysical survey at the intended site for the Chuditch-2 appraisal well off the coast of Timor-Leste and is now gearing up to begin the geotechnical survey.
Baron Oil, in a February announcement, shared that its subsidiary, SundaGas Banda Unipessoal, initiated a survey at the proposed site for the Chuditch-2 appraisal well under the TL-SO-19-16 production sharing contract (PSC) near Timor-Leste.
The geophysical survey, conducted throughout February and March, encountered some delays mainly due to adverse weather. The findings from this survey are now being integrated into the planning for the upcoming geotechnical survey, according to the company.
The vessel tasked with the geotechnical survey faced arrival delays in the Timor Sea, again due to poor weather, but is currently set to move to the Chuditch survey area. Completion of the geotechnical work is anticipated in the following month, with results to be announced after the site survey is concluded.
This site survey aims to detect any potential hazards at the intended well location to ensure safe and environmentally conscious placement of the drilling rig, with drilling planned for late 2024. The survey encompasses geophysical studies for remote seabed analysis and geotechnical investigations involving direct seabed examination, using two different vessels.
The Chuditch PSC spans around 3,571 km², in water depths ranging from 50 to 100 meters. It’s situated about 185 kilometers south of Timor-Leste and near significant gas fields, containing the Chuditch-1 gas discovery made by Shell in 1998.
SundaGas Banda Unipessoal operates the Chuditch PSC with a 60% stake, while the remaining 40% is owned by a subsidiary of Timor-Leste’s national oil company, Timor Gap, whose interest Banda carries to development.
In a recent development, SundaGas sold a part of its interest in the gas field to Timor Gap Chuditch Unipessoal, a fully-owned subsidiary of Timor Gap and a joint venture partner. This followed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and subsequent agreement in January to transfer an additional 15% working interest in the Chuditch PSC to Timor Gap.
