AWE Limited, reported that as at 06:00 hours (6.00am) AWST Wednesday the Irwin-1 exploration well, located in the onshore Perth Basin, Western Australia, was at a measured depth of 3,540 feet (1,079 meters) and drilling ahead in 12.25 inch hole to the next planned section depth of 9,088 feet (2,770 meters) following the successful installation of 13.375 inch surface casing at 2,995 feet (913 meters).

The Irwin prospect straddles the EP320 (AWE 33 percent) and L1 (AWE 50 percent, Operator) boundary and the Irwin-1 drilling program is being operated by AWE under an agency agreement with joint venture partner, Origin Energy Limited. The Irwin-1 exploration well was spud March 25.

The well will be drilled vertically to a planned total depth of 13,333 feet (4,064 merters) and is forecast to take approximately seven weeks to complete. Irwin-1 is designed to test the gas potential to the east of the Senecio and Waitsia gas fields and is targeting the Dongara and Wagina tight sandstone formations, the Carynginia Shale and Irwin River Coal Measures, as well as deeper conventional targets in the Kingia and High Cliff Sandstones.

Tags: AWE Limited