Jan. 2012 - Apache plans to acquire new 3D seismic data over the Zola gas discovery, located in WA-290-P, in June 2012 with processing to follow. Appraisal drilling is set to follow. The field is located in a water depth of 935 feet (285 meters) offshore Western Australia. Apache operates the permit, holding a 30.25% interest.

Oct. 2011 - Tap Oil reported that RPS Energy Services Pty Limited has completed its independent resource evaluation report on the volumetric of the Greater Zola structure. This follows the discovery at the Zola-1 exploration well in WA-290-P offshore Australia, as reported Feb. 17, 2011. The company confirmed the resource potential to be significantly greater than the upper-end of the company's pre-drill estimate of 1 to 2 Tcf. The company said that the Zola-1 well delineated a mean contingent resource of 378 Bcf and, in addition, indicated prospective resources of 2.3 Tcf in the greater Zola structure. Apache operates the permit, holding a 30.25 percent interest.

Aug. 2011 - Apache reported that a 3D seismic survey over the greater Zola structure was completed by the joint venture. The consortium will process the data over the next 12 months with additional drilling expected in the second half 2012. The field is located in a water depth of 935 feet (285 meters) offshore Western Australia. Apache operates the permit, holding a 30.25% interest.

Jun. 2011 - Santos Limited, a partner in permit WA-290-P, announced that the consortium will acquire additional 3D seismic data over the permit to pinpoint appraisal drilling for the Zola discovery. Follow-up appraisal drilling on Zola is planned for 2012. The field is located in a water depth of 935 feet (285 meters) offshore Western Australia. Apache operates the permit, holding a 30.25% interest.

Apr. 2011 - Apache has made a large gas discovery in the Zola-1 exploratory well on the North West Shelf of Australia. The Zola-1 discovery well and the subsequently drilled sidetrack appraisal well Zola-1/ST-1 have confirmed the existence of sandstone layers with 427 feet (130 meters) of net gas pay in an area south of the giant Gorgon gas field, stated Apache. The company is requesting new 3D seismic data to further assess the potential of the discovery, which is expected to commence in mid-2011. The sidetrack appraisal well was drilled to a total depth of 15,463 feet (4,713 meters). An extensive wireline measurement and pressure testing program confirmed the presence of gas within several high quality sands of the target Triassic Mungaroo formation. Both wells, drilled in a water depth of 935 feet (285 meters), will be plugged and abandoned. Apache operates WA-290-P, located offshore Western Australia, owning a 30.25% interest; Nippon Oil Exploration owns 15%; OMV Australia owns 20%; Santos Offshore owns 24.75%; and Tap owns 10%.

Apr. 2011 - Apache announced that the Zola-1 exploratory well in WA-290-P has interested more than 328 feet (100 meters) of net gas pay sands over a 1,312 feet (400 meter) gross interval in the primary target, the Mungaroo formation. Wireline logging and pressure testing has confirmed the net gas pay and the high quality of the reservoir sands. The Zola discovery is on trend with the Gorgon gas field and is situated near existing gas infrastructure. Following completion of operations at the Zola-1 well, the Stena Clyde semisub will move to the Finucane South exploratory well, Santos' next target in the Carnarvon Basin. Zola is located in the Carnarvon Basin offshore Western Australia in a water depth of 919 feet (280 meters). Apache operates WA-290-P, located offshore Western Australia, owning a 30% interest; Nippon Oil Exploration owns 25%; OMV Australia owns 20%; Santos Offshore owns 15%; and Tap owns 10%.

Mar. 2011 - Apache Northwest Limited disclosed it will sidetrack the Zola-1 well to reach total depth and fully evaluate the gas bearing reservoirs penetrated to-date. During the period from March 16 to March 23 the free point survey was run down hole to locate the stuck drill pipe, however, all of it was not recovered so the operator decided to sidetrack the original well. Present operations are attempting to kick off and initiate the sidetrack Zola-1 ST1, at 13,789 feet (4,203 meters). The Zola well is located in WA-290-P offshore Western Australia. Partners in the license include Apache (operator, 30%), Nippon Oil Exploration (25%), OMV Australia (20%), Santos Offshore (15%), and Tap Oil (10%).

Feb. 2011 - Apache Northwest has reported indications of hydrocarbons in the Zola-1 well in permit WA-290-P in the Carnarvon basin, offshore Western Australia. Tap Oil, a partner in the permit, said the well is currently drilling ahead in the Mungaroo formation, the primary target of the well. The well had encountered indications of hydrocarbons suggesting the presence of a gas column from the top of the primary target. The extent and thickness of the gas column will be confirmed when the upper Mungaroo section has been drilled out and wireline logs are run at the appropriate logging point. The Zola well is located in WA-290-P offshore Western Australia. Partners in the license include Apache (operator, 30%), Nippon Oil Exploration (25%), OMV Australia (20%), Santos Offshore (15%), and Tap Oil (10%).

Dec. 2010 - Apache Northwest has spud the Zola-1 well in permit WA-290-P in the offshore Carnarvon Basin. The Stena Clyde semisub is drilling the well, and operations should take about 40 to 50 days to reach a proposed total depth of around 16,404 feet (5,000 meters). Zola is a very large Triassic tilted fault block on trend with the Gorgon gas field. Considered one of the largest un-drilled structural features in the Carnarvon Basin, Zola is covered by high-quality newly reprocessed 3D seismic data and is considered a moderate risk prospect. It is estimated that Zola contains between 0.2 and 2 Tcf of recoverable gas with a mean volume of nearly 1 Tcf. Apache operates WA-290-P, holding a 30% interest; Nippon Oil Exploration holds 25%; OMV Australia holds 20%; Santos Offshore holds 15%; and Tap holds 10%.

Nov. 2010 - The Stena Clyde semisub is currently running anchors at the Zola-1 drilling location and the well should spud in the next 24 hours, advised Apache. Drilling should take about 40 to 50 days to reach a final depth of around 16,404 feet (5,000 meters). The well is located in WA-290-P offshore Western Australia. Partners in the license include Apache (operator, 30%); Nippon Oil Exploration (25%); OMV Australia (20%); Santos Offshore (15%); and Tap (10%).

Sep. 2010 - Exploratory drilling on the Zola-1 well has been delayed until November 2010. The operator, Apache, reported the delay is due to an additional well being added to the Stena Clyde schedule, placing it ahead of Zola-1. The well is located in WA-290-P offshore Western Australia. Partners in the license include Apache (operator, 30%); Nippon Oil Exploration (25%); OMV Australia (20%); Santos Offshore (15%); and Tap (10%).

Aug. 2010 - Exploratory drilling will commence on the Zola-1 well in mid-September by the Stena Clyde semisub. Once the semisub is on location, drilling should take about 40 to 50 days to reach a proposed total depth of around 16,404 feet (5,000 meters). Zola is a very large Triassic tilted fault block on trend with the Gorgon gas field. Considered one of the largest un-drilled structural features in the Carnarvon Basin, Zola is covered by high quality newly reprocessed 3D seismic data and is considered a moderate risk prospect. It is estimated that Zola contains between 0.2 and 2 Tcf of recoverable gas with a mean volume of nearly 1 Tcf. Apache operates WA-290-P, located offshore Western Australia, holding a 30% interest; Nippon Oil Exploration holds 25%; OMV Australia holds 20%; Santos Offshore holds 15%; and Tap holds 10%.

Jul. 2010 - Apache Northwest plans to spud the Zola-1 prospect as early as August, depending on the progress of the Stena Clyde's current activities. Once the semisub is on location, drilling should take about 40 to 50 days to reach a proposed total depth of around 16,404 feet (5,000 meters). Zola is a very large Triassic tilted fault block on trend with the Gorgon gas field. Considered one of the largest un-drilled structural features in the Carnarvon Basin, Zola is covered by high quality newly reprocessed 3D seismic data and is considered a moderate risk prospect. It is estimated Zola contains between 0.2 and 2 Tcf of recoverable gas with a mean volume of nearly 1 Tcf. In a water depth of 984 feet (300 meters), the well is targeting Mungaroo Formation sands – the primary reservoir at Gorgon. Situated near existing infrastructures, Zola has multiple development options in the event of a discovery. Apache operates WA-290-P, located offshore Western Australia, owning a 30% interest; Nippon Oil Exploration owns 25%; OMV Australia owns 20%; Santos Offshore owns 15%; and Tap owns 10%.