Santos Ltd, through wholly owned subsidiary Santos QNT Pty Ltd., spudded the Chookola 1 oil exploration well in ATP 752-P Barta, located in the Cooper-Eromanga Basin, during September. On 21 September 2018, joint venture partner Bengal Energy (Australia) Pty Ltd. reported that the well was to be plugged and abandoned after a review of well logs. Oil shows were encountered at multiple intervals but no pay identified.   The well had multiple targets, a planned total depth of 2,650 m, and was expected to cost approximately AUD 2.3 million (gross).  The Chookola 1 well location was identified following interpretation of the Barta West 3D seismic survey, acquired during 2H 2017. Located in close proximity to the Barta North and Cuisinier fields in adjacent PL 303, the Chookola prospect comprised a mapped four-way structural closure at the Cretaceous Murta Formation level, the Jurassic Birkhead/Hutton Formation level, and the Triassic Doonmulla Member (Tinchoo Formation) level. The Murta Formation is a productive reservoir at both the Barta North and the Cuisinier fields, the Hutton and Birkhead formations are proven reservoirs at the proximal Cocinero field, and the Doonmulla Member forms the reservoir at the nearby James 1 discovery.  ATP 752-P Barta, which covers an area of 632 sq. km, was awarded in 14 July 2006.Â Â  Participants in the permit are Santos QNT Pty Ltd. (54.64% plus operatorship), Bengal Energy (Australia) Pty Ltd. (30.36%), and Bridgeport (Cooper Basin) Pty Ltd. (15.00%).
Chookola 1 (Santos 54,64% op., Bengal Egy. 30,36%, Bridgeport 15%) in ATP 752-P Barta block, P&A, after a review of well logs. Oil shows were encountered at multiple intervals but no pay identified.