There is a lot to do to prepare for the drilling of the Buffalo-10 well in Timor-Leste later this year.

Last year, Carnarvon Petroleum set the groundwork with the preparation of our operating systems and procedures, the establishment of an office and recruitment of staff in Timor-Leste, and interfacing with the Timor-Leste Government to ensure our plans to drill are acceptable.

At present our Buffalo team, led by Mark Robertson, is engaging with drilling service management provider Petrofac to finalise operating systems and processes so they are of the highest standard for drilling.  

We are also assessing which items have long lead times to ensure we can prioritise ordering. In the coming weeks we will begin to formally invite offers from drilling companies to tender for the drilling of the well.

All this detail over the coming weeks and months also needs to be coordinated with the Timor-Leste Government, who is keen to see the well drilled, and our partner Advance Energy Plc.

I remain confident that we are making good progress on our preparations to drill the well later this calendar year.