Emperor Energy clears regulatory hurdle for Judith-2 well, Gippsland Basin
Emperor Energy secured approval from the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) for the Environment Plan covering drilling of the Judith-2 appraisal well in the offshore Gippsland Basin.
The plan is the key regulatory requirement for drilling the well. Emperor recently executed a term sheet to secure the VALARIS 107 jackup for the job, which is targeted for April 2027. The rig is working in the Gippsland Basin and is expected to become available when its current commitments end in March 2027.
Judith-2 will appraise a 166 bcf 2C contingent recoverable gas resource that Shell discovered in the Judith structure in 1989. The well will also explore a 142 bcf P50 prospective recoverable gas resource in the deeper Longtom gas sands, which have not yet been penetrated in the structure.
