ISLAND DRILLING OPERATIONS OFFSHORE CARNARVON BASIN

Abstract

Oil was discovered in Cretaceous and Jurassic age sands in Barrow Island No. 1 well in June 1964. As a result the need for broad regional stratigraphic control within the Barrow sub-basin of the Carnarvon Basin became urgent.

Barrow Island is located 40 miles off the north-west coast and 65 miles from Onslow.

Investigation showed a number of islands suitably located to provide sites for drilling to obtain stratigraphic information if problems of transportation, access, and rigging up in loose beach sand could be economically solved.

Detailed planning resulted in the choice of shallow draft landing barges for transport and tracked vehicles and trailers for movement from the barges to the drill sites. A contract was let for the supply of a new self propelled drilling rig specially rigged up for the anticipated conditions. While equipment was being mobilized a detailed survey of beaching conditions on all islands considered to be candidates for drilling, was completed.

The first well was spudded on September 21, 1966 on Long Island, 70 miles south-west from Barrow Island and the last well, Stokes Point No. 1 on the southern end of Barrow Island, was completed June 16, 1968. The total program comprised 15 wells with a total footage drilled of over 98,000 feet.