Drilling starts in Gulf

 INTEROIL says the PRL-15 joint venture has started drilling a side-track well at the Antelope 4 site, as part of its appraisal campaign on the Elk-Antelope gas field in Gulf. 

The Antelope-4 appraisal was suspended in May this year at a true vertical depth sub-sea of 2,056m (6,745 feet), approximately 158m above the field gas water contact. 

Well operations, which resumed on Monday, included on-site preparation and testing of well-head equipment. 

Subsequently operator Total E&P PNG Ltd obtained approval from Department of Petroleum and Energy to re-enter the well.