Oil Search Ltd spudded the Gobe Footwall 1 oil and gas exploration well in PDL 4, located in the Papuan Fold Belt, on 12 November 2019. The well was targeting the Gobe Footwall Prospect, a nearfield exploration well to the Gobe Main oil field, with an aim to extend the field life of the Gobe field. Though both the Toro and Iagifu target reservoirs were encountered, both were determined (from logs and pressure/sample data) to be water bearing, with minor oil shows. Oil Search reported on 6 February 2020 that it was preparing to plug and abandon the well. The rig was released from site on 12 February 2020 after reaching a total depth of 4,370 m.   The Gobe Footwall 1 well was drilled by the "High Arctic 103" land rig and had a planned total depth of 3,650 m. Oil Search reported on 9 January 2020 that the well was sidetracked to ensure the main objectives were reached at the correct depth. The main bore hole was plugged-back and sidetracked at a depth of 1,230 m to reach the footwall objective after it was determined a more vertical angle was required. The well had already drilled through the Darai Formation in the 12-1/4" section, from 2,226 to 2,914 m.   The Gobe Footwall prospect lies directly to the southwest of the Gobe oil field in the underlying footwall of the sub-thrust. It is targeting the Iagifu and Toro sandstones, and was drilled from an existing Gobe Main field wellpad as a deviated well. Oil Search reports that data indicates the Gobe Footwall structure is similar to both the Agogo and Hedinia footwall structures.  The Gobe Main and southeast fields have been producing oil since 1998 and have around 5-10 years left of production at declining current rates of around 800 bo/d. It is hoped that near field success could extend the field life.  Since acquiring around 50 km of 2D seismic data between Gobe and Iehi in 2018, Oil Search had been processing and interpreting the data to delineate possible targets and provide the best drilling locations. The Iehi gas field has potential to backfill the PNG LNG project in the future. In the case of a gas find in the near field exploration efforts, reserves could provide a suitable and economic route to market.  PDL 4, which covers an area of 340 sq km, was awarded on 24 December 1996.
Gobe Footwall-1ST expl. (Oil Search 10% op, Merlin 73,48%, Ampolex 14,52%, Petroleum Resources Gobe 2%) in SW sector of PDL 4 block, P&A oil shows at TD=4370m, Target Upper Jurassic Iagifu + Cretaceous Toro sst.