Australia’s 3D Energi has confirmed a gas-condensate discovery at the Essington-1 exploration well in the offshore Otway Basin’s VIC/P79 permit, marking a key milestone for southeastern Australia’s energy sector.
Formation testing across the primary Waarre A and secondary Waarre C reservoirs validated reservoir quality and deliverability, aligning with pre-drill models in a basin critical for regional gas supply amid growing demand concerns.
The company deployed Schlumberger’s Ora formation testing platform for the first time in Australia across three zones in the Waarre A reservoir, which lacks extensive prior production data compared to Waarre C.
Ora testing indicated that two out of three zones showed effective reservoir quality and deliverability, with fluid analysis confirming gas-condensate presence and CO₂ levels of 3-4 per cent, consistent with modular formation dynamics tester samples.
The first test in low-quality argillaceous siltstone revealed very low mobility and permeability, aiding net productive reservoir refinement; tests two and three in moderate-to-excellent sandstones confirmed moveable gas-condensate, the second exhibiting very high mobility and strong connectivity, while the third showed good mobility despite higher clay content.
Gas samples await onshore lab analysis for compositional details, pressure-volume-temperature data, and resource updates, integrating with full drilling data to assess commerciality via subsurface integration, economics, and market conditions.
This low-impact technology reduces flaring and operational time, supporting Australia’s shift to efficient evaluation methods in basins like Otway, a proven gas province.
Essington-1 will be plugged and abandoned per the approved Environment Plan, after which the Transocean Equinox rig moves 20km northwest to drill Charlemont-1, the campaign’s second target.
3D Energi executive chairman Noel Newell said: “Ora testing has confirmed reservoir deliverability in key Waarre A intervals and delivered the type of high-quality subsurface data needed to progress our technical and commercial evaluation.
“This is the first time the Ora technology has been deployed in Australia, and its successful application has allowed us to acquire crucial reservoir insights while reducing environmental impact.
“We now shift our immediate focus to Charlemont-1 where we hope to replicate the outstanding results at Essington.”
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