PEL 94 (Beach 50%)

PEL 94 covers the south-western extremity of the Cooper Basin and incorporates the Milpera Embayment, which is a trough containing Permian sediments of unproven hydrocarbon source capacity.

In 2002, Beach drilled Maslins-1 which recovered oil from the Murta Formation, and provided significant encouragement that oil had been generated in the adjacent Milpera Embayment. Waitpinga-1 was drilled in 2003 as a Permian test of this concept, but the well was plugged and abandoned after penetrating a thinner than expected Permian sequence. In early 2007, two wells were drilled down dip of Maslins-1 on the Milpera Horst, Tunkalilla-1 and Telowie-1. Both wells were plugged and abandoned with Telowie-1 recovering a small amount of oil from the Murta Formation.

Early in 2007, the permit term was renewed for a further 5 years with a mandatory 1/3 relinquishment of the original area. The discovery of oil at Harpoono-1, in the adjoining PEL 113, has also highlighted potential on the northern margin of the permit, and a 3D seismic survey was acquired during 2005 to delineate subtle targets along the Dunoon Horst. Future focus for exploration is likely to be in this northern part of the permit.