Inpex has won two new exploration blocks, offshore Western Australia, near its Ichthys gas-condensate field.

The company has secured exploration permits for the WA-513-P and WA-514-P offshore blocks in the Browse basin jointly with Santos.

Located about 500km north-north-east off Broome, the blocks are sited near large gas reserves that include the Ichthys field and Prelude and Concerto gas fields.

Inpex Browse will own a 40% participating interest in the two blocks, while operator Santos will hold the remaining 60% stake.

The latest acquisition will increase Inpex's exploration permits or retention leases to 13 in the vicinity of Ichthys.

Drilling has recently started on the Ichthys gas-condensate field, which is part of the Ichthys LNG project, located around 200km offshore Western Australia.

The first of 20 high-rate gas production wells to be drilled were spudded by the ENSCO-5006 drilling rig.

The Ichthys LNG project is a joint venture between Inpex group companies, Total group companies and the Australian subsidiaries of Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Chubu Electric Power and Toho Gas.

The project will have an initial capacity to produce 8.4 million tonnes of LNG a year and 1.6 million tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas a year, as well as peak production of around 100,000 barrels of condensate per day.

Source: www.offshore-technology.com

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