The Shwe Yee Htun-1 exploration well in Block A-6 in the Rakhine Basin offshore area of Myanmar has hit a gross gas column of about 129 m (423 ft), Woodside said in a news release.

About 15 m (49 ft) of net gas pay was interpreted within the primary target interval. The well reached the planned original total depth (TD) of 4,810 m (15,781 ft). Following drilling, wireline logging was conducted and confirmed the presence of a gas column through pressure measurements and gas sampling, Woodside said. The well was subsequently deepened to a final TD of 5,306 m (17,408 ft).

Spudded on Nov. 27, the well reached its original target on Dec. 23 and wireline logging concluded on Dec. 29. Woodside said Shwe Yee Htun-1 targeted one of many identified channel complexes that run over a large anticlinal feature, the Saung Anticline.

“Further analysis will be undertaken to understand the full potential of the play, but this de-risks a number of leads which will now be matured,” Woodside CEO Peter Coleman said.

With a 40% interest in A-6, Woodside Energy (Myanmar) Pte. Ltd. (Woodside Myanmar) is the joint operator with MPRL E&P Pte. Ltd. (MPRL E&P), 20% interest. MPRL E&P is operator with respect to government liaison, and Woodside Myanmar is the operator with respect to all other operations, including drilling. Total E&P Myanmar holds a 40%, non-operated interest.

Woodside has interests in six blocks in the Rakhine Basin, the release said. The six permits make up 46,000 sq km (17,761 sq miles) and represent 20% of Woodside’s global exploration acreage.