The Rookwood Oil Field in the Surat Basin, south-west Queensland, is interpreted from seismic data to have the potential to contain up to 11 million barrels of recoverable oil in the target Jurassic Boxvale Sandstone.

But Rookwood Central-1, 400m south of the discovery well Rookwood South-1, had extensive oil-water contact in the Boxvale sands.

Following the completion of Rookwood-16 and the determination of the OWC, the partners said they would determine the appropriate zones within the Rookwood-East and West wells for perforation into the appropriate oil bearing zones. Then these wells would be put on production testing with the installation of beam pumps.

Production testing is ongoing at Rookwood South-1, with a beam pump installed and approximately 2000 barrels of oil recovered. But a fine-grained sand influx had been restricting the flow of oil into the well bore and affecting pumping efficiency.

Remedial action, including re-perforating the oil sands, was planned with a subsequent workover.

Two prospects, each with the potential to contain up to 5 million barrels of recoverable oil, were planned to be drilled immediately after Rookwood-16 within the Remainder Block of ATP 608P.

“At this stage the Rookwood oil field is still undergoing overall assessment to determine the potential size of the reservoir and the potential sustainable oil production. Further development will be determined upon analysis of results," Victoria Petroleum announced.