The 2012 program with joint venture partner CNOOC involves drilling up to 22 wells across five permits targeting coal seam gas, conventional oil and shale oil and gas.
The CSG program is targeting 31 trillion cubic feet of potential resources in seven prospect areas with the aim of providing technical data to convert the resource into reserves during 2013.
Up to 13 CSG core wells are expected to be drilled within the Permian Betts Creek and Aramac coal measures in the seven prospect areas.
The wells will also provide data on the Toolebuc shale formation that was confirmed as a potential world-scale oil and gas resource last year.
Staying on the unconventional quest, seven shale exploration wells are planned to be drilled in ATP99P, ATP1005P and ATP1008P to collect further shale geological and geochemical data.
On the conventional oil front, Exoma will test the Katherine West prospect that has been identified to have 80 million barrels of oil.
A core will be cut through the Hutton and Adori reservoir section and drill stem tests will be carried out.
If the work confirms the presence of recoverable oil, Exoma will then drill the Katherine East structure that could hold up to 200MMbbl of oil in place.
The 2012 program will be carried out using a rig from Ausdrill with negotiation for a second rig well-advanced.
Drilling is expected to start sometime next month subject to weather and land access considerations.
Exoma holds a 50% stake in the five Galilee permits.
CNNOC local subsidiary CNOOC Galilee Gas Company is earning its 50% via a farm-in by providing the initial $50 million for early exploration works.
This story first appeared on ILN's sister publication EnergyNewsBulletin.net.
