Australian Worldwide Exploration (AWE) has started drilling for oil at the Bulu Production Sharing Contract in the Java Sea.

A pilot hole was drilled to 170 metres at the Lisah-1 well but subsequent deeper drilling proved unsuccessful and the well is now being plugged and abandoned.

When this is complete the rig will be moved to the Lengo-1 well in the north-west corner of the Bulu PSC.

The Lisah-1 work took place about 90km north of Surabaya, East Java, in 60m of water. AWE says the wireline logging data from the well indicates that the primary target was porous but water wet. It says good shows were recorded in the deeper secondary objective but logs show that reservoir development is poor.

Participants in the Bulu PSC are AWE with 42.5%, Aabar Petroleum Investments Company PJSC with 42.5%, PT Satria Energindo with 10% and PT Satria Wijaya Kusuma with 5%.

A 3D seismic programme is planned after the completion of the initial drilling.

AWE also has interests in Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.

www.awexp.com.au