18 April 2008WILLAROO-1 DRILLING TO COMMENCE 4th MAY• Ensign Rig...

18 April 2008
WILLAROO-1 DRILLING TO COMMENCE 4th MAY
• Ensign Rig 20 maintenance nearing completion
• Willaroo-1 well site has been prepared
SYDNEY: Orion Petroleum Ltd. (ASX:OIP) today said that drilling of the Willaroo-1
exploration well in northern New South Wales will commence on 4th May.
Orion Managing Director Barry Smith said the drilling contractor, Ensign Australia Pty Ltd.
has advised that delays with the repair of the rig gearbox have affected the Ensign Rig 20
schedule. Mr Smith said, “We were expecting to start the well on 24 April, but rig
maintenance work will delay the drilling by about 10 days.”
Current time estimate is for Ensign Rig 20 to commence mobilisation to the Willaroo-1
location on or about 30th April; followed by spudding of the well around 4th May. “The
Willaroo-1 well site has been prepared and is now ready for the rig”, Mr Smith added.
Orion expects Willaroo-1 to reach the upper-most reservoir objective (Precipice Sandstone
oil play) approximately one week after the commencement of drilling. Willaroo-1 will target
multiple reservoir objectives with oil and gas potential over the depth range 1380 metres KB
to 1780 metres KB, with the well being drilled to a total depth of 2000 metres KB.
Participating Interests:
Orion Petroleum 97.5% (Operator)
Private Investors 2.5%
Note: KB refers to Kelly Bushing depth
For further information, please contact;
Orion Petroleum: 02 9254 9000
Barry Smith (Managing Director)
Media: Ian Pemberton
P & L Corporate Communications: 02 9241 6044