Mobil's wholly owned subsidiary, Mobil Exploration & Producing Australia Pty Ltd., has found significant
new gas resources in the Carnarvon Basin, off the northwest coast of Western Australia. This follows two recent major discoveries in exploration permit WA-267-P, in which Mobil has a 25 percent interest. The Orthrus-1 well, the second well of a six-well exploration program in the permit, spudded on October 1 in 3,937 ft. (1,200 m) of water. It reached a depth of 11,712 ft. (3,570 m) and has intersected a total of 173 ft. (53 m) net gas pay.
The Orthrus-1 well is located about 16 miles southwest of the Geryon-1 well, the first exploration well in WA-267-P. Geryon-1 was drilled to a total depth of 11,624 ft. (3,543 m). It encountered three gas zones containing good quality sands, with a total net pay of 370 ft. (113 m). Geryon-1 lies in 4,039 ft. (1,231 m) of water.