Georgina Energy (GEX) has completed all pre-drill civil engineering and access works at its Hussar EP513 prospect in Western Australia, leaving the site ready for mobilisation of the contracted Ensign 970 drill rig once weather and road conditions permit.
The drilling pad, water well, Turkey’s nest and sump have been completed, while the water well has been tested at about 260,000 litres per day. The 20-inch conductor pipe has also been drilled and cemented in place.
In addition, the Hussar airstrip has been cleared, gravelled and rolled to provide a 1,400-metre all-weather strip, while access roads have been cleared, graded, gravelled and compacted where required.
However, unusually heavy rainfall across the district has prevented contractors from fully demobilising and has delayed the planned September rig mobilisation.
Leonora, close to the main access road to Hussar, recorded 58.8 millimetres of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on September 7, making it the town's wettest September day on record and its wettest overall day in nine years.
Ongoing road closures within the Wiluna Shire and restrictions on heavy vehicles have also prevented the movement of overwidth, overlength and overweight equipment needed for the drilling campaign.
Following discussions with Ensign Drilling, Georgina said the parties concluded there was currently a high risk that mobilisation of the rig could be halted while in transit.
The company said proceeding under the current conditions could also expose it to material standby charges from Ensign and other service contractors, particularly as the duration of the disruption cannot yet be reliably forecast.
Georgina remains hopeful of mobilising the rig and associated contractors once weather, road and safety conditions permit. A revised spud date will be announced in due course.
Georgina Energy’s Chief Executive Officer Anthony Hamilton said: “Georgina’s contractors have done an excellent job of preparing the site and access roads to enable the mobilisation of the Ensign 970 drill rig to enable the drill testing of this exciting prospect, however, unexpected heavy rainfall and road closures have caused the targeted drill program to be delayed and we look forward to making further announcements in due course.”
View from Vox
The delay is weather-related rather than operational, with the site and access infrastructure already prepared for drilling. The key next step is confirmation of when road conditions will allow the Ensign 970 rig to mobilise safely to Hussar.