Preliminary analysis of electric logs also indicates the well has extended the Birkhead zone in the Mulberry oil pool, 300m south-west of Mulberry-1, according to Drillsearch.

Mulberry-6, which was drilled to a total depth of 1439m, was the first well to be drilled in the Tintaburra joint venture’s 51 well drilling program.

The program will cover the development of the Mulberry Field, as well as increase oil recovery from other producing fields and potentially recover an additional 20 million barrels of oil, the company said in an earlier report.

Initial drilling operations were halted in July 2005 following the completion of a five-well drilling program, in which Mulberry 1, 2, 3 and 5 wells were confirmed as discovery wells and put on production. These wells were tied to the JV’s Gimboola production facility.

The Tintaburra JV comprises Santos (operator – 89%), Drillsearch (10%) and CPC Energy (1%).