The wells will be operated by Roc using the Premium Wilcraft jack-up drilling rig and the entire program is expected to be completed during May.

The three wells scheduled for drilling are Frankland-1 and Dunsborough-1 in permit WA-286-P, and Perseverance-1 in permit WA-325-P.

Roc chief executive John Doran said since the 2001 discovery of the Cliff Head oil field, eight exploration wells have been drilled in an attempt to find another Cliff Head but all have been dry.

“From Roc’s point of view, the imminent drilling program is probably the last roll of the dice involving, as it does, two wells which are government commitment wells,” Doran said.

“If this program does not yield commercial encouragement, Roc will probably consolidate its Perth Basin interest to Cliff Head and the immediately surrounding area and redirect its exploration dollars to other parts of its portfolio.

“If the program provides a commercial discovery, Roc will be 100% focused on working with its co-venturers to appraise and, if warranted, develop it as soon as possible.”

Participating interests in WA-286-P are Roc (37.5%), AWE Oil (27.5%), Wandoo Petroleum (24%), Arc (6%) and CIECO Exploration and Production (5%).

Interests in WA-325-P are Roc (37.5%), Apache Northwest (37.5%), ARC (20%) and Wandoo Petroleum (5%).