LARGE GAS FLOW

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30760, 26 May 1965, Page 19

LARGE GAS FLOW

Record For Australia

: (N Z Press Assn —Copyright) SYDNEY, May 25. The largest single gas flow in Australian oil search history has occurred at East Mereenie No. 1 well, 140 miles south-west of Alice Springs. Ex Oil (N.L ) announced today that the well has produced 60.5 m cub. ft. of gas a day in an open flow test. The previous record of 30m cubic feet of gas in a day was set by the same well last year.

The company said the record was calculated in a fourpoint absolute open flow potential test of the well.

The test enhances prospects of the Mereenie gas field, which is estimated to extend at least 17 miles after the drilling of East Mereenie No. 2 well and West Mereenie No. 1. Gas Flows East Mereenie No. 2 flowed 2.25 m cub. ft. of gas and West Mereenie No. 1 flowed 13m cub. ft. of gas on preliminary tests.

• Ex Oil also reported that an oil column has been encountered in the Mereenie field which will be tested by a specially planned flank well

The test will be made on what is expected to be a more permeable section of the Pacoota reservoir. The first well drilled in the Mereenie field was the Ooraminna No. 1 well, 25 miles south-east of Alice Springs, which discovered non-com-mercial gas.

The next, Alice Springs No. 1 well, 17 miles south-west of Alice Springs, showed signs of liquid carbons. First Big Strike In the first well, named Mereenie No. 1, drillers made the first important gas strike. Gas was encountered in three different levels in the well with the largest being Um cub. ft. of gas a day.

Partners in the East Mereenie No. 1 well are Exoil NL„ Magellan Petroleum Australia Pty., Ltd., United Canso Oil and Gas, Tranoil NL, Oil Investments Inc., Farmout Drillers NL. and Krewliff Investments Pty.