An Oil Search spokeswoman told PNGIndustryNews.net that drilling would resume when supplies were delivered to the drill site.

The company said casing had been successfully run and cemented before drilling into the target Toro formation at a depth of 3200m.

Juha-4 is targeting an untested block that may be in communication with the existing wells.

Located 35km northwest of the Hides gas field, the well follows the Juha-5 well, which was drilled in the same segment as the earlier wells.

Oil Search is operator with a 31.5% stake, while ExxonMobil holds a 56% interest and Merlin Petroleum has 12.5%.

Yemen and Egypt

Meanwhile in Yemen, Oil Search is awaiting the delivery of a new jet pump before it starts a second drill stem test in the lower section of the Nayfa formation at its onshore Al Magrabah-1 exploration well in Yemen.

Al Magrabah-1 is in Block 35, about 55 kilometres northeast of the Nabrajah field.

Participants in Block 35 are operator Oil Search (Yemen) (34.2105%), Virgin Resources (39.4737%), Arc Energy (15.7895%), and MND Exploration and Production (10.5263%).

In other news, Oil Search's partner Sipetrol International has started preparations for a logging and testing program over the Rana-1 well in Egypt.

The well, which was drilled to a total depth of 3739m, was drilled to test the Cretaceous Abu Roash, Bahariya and Kharita formations.

Oil Search holds a 49.5% interest in Rana-1 while Sipetrol, the operator, has 50.5%.