Santos Ltd and JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration completed the sale of interest in exploration permit WA-498-P, located in the North Carnarvon Basin, to Skye Alba Pty Ltd, on 14 December 2018.Â  Skye Alba, through wholly owned subsidiary Skye Energy Pty Ltd is now sole owner and operator of the permit.  The sale and purchase agreement between the companies was entered into on 1 March 2018.Â  Prior to the dealing, Santos held 75% and operatorship, while JX Nippon held the remaining 25%.Â  The companies had been looking to divest interest in a number of North Carnarvon basin permits, including WA-498-P.  No wells have yet been drilled in the permitâs validity, though it does contain one previously drilled well â Bligh 1, which was plugged and abandoned as a dry hole in 2002. There is one well outlined under the permitâs work programme, scheduled between April 2019 and April 2020.Â  The permit is due to expire, or be eligible for renewal, on 15 April 2020.  WA-498-P, which covers an area of 81 sq km, saw an interest change completed as of 14 December 2018.Â  Skye Energy Pty Ltd now holds 100% interest and operatorship of the permit.
Skye acquired Santosâs 75% operating interest and JX Nipponâs 25% participating interest in WA-498-P block.