Bengal paid $US1.75 million ($A1.7 million) for the Ideco H-44 rig. It will also pay an additional $US1 million for ancillary equipment and to mobilise the rig from its current location in Dubai to Brisbane.

The rig is expected to arrive in Queensland in time for Bengal’s drilling program at Tokkoonooka in July.

Six potential drilling targets have been identified covering four play types and targeting multiple zones along the southwest flank of the Cooper.

The play types range in depth from 1000-1800m and include light oil targets in the Jurassic, Cretaceous and fractured basement as well as natural gas in the Permian Toolachee sandstones.

Bengal plans to initially drill three wells in the current program but may decide to drill additional wells once the three-well program is complete.

Bengal owns 100% of the Tookoonooka block the covers ATP 732.

This article first appeared in ILN's sister publication EnergyNewsBulletin.net.