Nudgee-1 is the first in a three-well, back-to-back drilling program planned for the permit.

Once Nudgee-1 has finished drilling, Entek said it would have earned its 28.15% farm-in interest in ATP-269P, following its participation in two previous wells, Coolum-1 and Byrock-2, both of which were discoveries.

Coolum-1 is currently online, while Byrock-2 is expected to enter production either late this month or in early July.

Nudgee-1 is targeting “one of many” four-way dip closures confirmed by last year’s Trocus 3D seismic survey, according to Entek, which said these features formed part of a northwest trending structural high.

More specifically, the well is designed to appraise the updip potential at both the mid Birkhead and Hutton levels of a structure that was drilled in 1988 with the commercially unsuccessful Gumla-1 well.

The well recovered 17 barrels of oil from the mid Birkhead, and 5bbl along with water from the top Hutton Sandstone.

Interpretation of the Trocus survey determined that Gumla-1 was drilled off crest and that updip potential exists.

Structural mapping at the mid-Birkhead level, based upon 3D seismic, indicates the Nudgee prospect has about 20m of structural relief and encloses an area of at least 2.2 square kilometres.

Once drilling finishes, the rig will move to Marcoola-1, the second well in the program.

Participating interests in ATP-269P will be Beach Petroleum (operator with 46.95%), Entek (28.15%), Inland Oil Production (20%) and Gidgealpa Oil (4.9%).