March 2012 - Robe - SA.Gov.au

COMMUNITY NEWS
Beach commits to exploration program
Joint venture partners Beach Energy Limited and Somerton Energy Limited
are about to undertake oil and gas exploration near Robe.
Beach says a 3D seismic survey will be conducted in March and April
and will cover an area over 70 square kilometres within the PEL 186
exploration permit (see map). Depending on the results of the seismic
survey, an exploration well may be drilled next year.
The seismic survey will investigate the hydrocarbon potential around the
Nunga Mia-1 well. Nunga Mia-1 was drilled in 1996 to a depth of 2,644
metres, with indications of oil being present at 2,404 metres. The seismic
survey may identify structures in the rock layers suitable for trapping
hydrocarbons, which would provide opportunities for new wells to be
drilled. Any new wells would be targeting oil and gas at a similar depth to
the oil indications at Nunga Mia-1. The types of rock that oil or gas may
be found in (called reservoirs) around the Nunga Mia-1 area can be referred
to as ‘conventional’.
The current production in the Otway Basin is all classed as conventional,
and mostly comprises gas from the Katnook area near Penola. The sort
of equipment you will see is therefore mostly the same as you see now,
including processing facilities, tanks and pipelines.
In the case of an oil discovery, this would include a pump jack, separator,
and oil load out facility
Beach Energy and Somerton Energy have also recognised the potential
of the Otway Basin to contain shale formations which may be suitable
for a shale gas or shale liquids system. However, exploration and assessment
of the shale is at a very early stage and more data needs to
be collected before this potential can be confirmed.
Shale gas/liquids are also referred to as ‘unconventional’. This term
applies not to the methods used to find or recover the hydrocarbons,
but to the type of rock and geological structures the hydrocarbons are
found in. Shale gas is also different to Coal Seam Gas (CSG). CSG
occurs at shallow depths while shale gas occurs much deeper, and in
the case of the Otway region, the shale lies at deeper levels than the
‘conventional’ hydrocarbons already being produced .
As with all oil and gas operations in South Australia, exploration and
operations are controlled by the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act
2000 and regulations, which ensure management of health, safety and
environmental issues.
Beach says that if the new work is successful it will extend the life of its
operations in the Otway Basin.
Updates will be available at www.beachenergy.com.au and
www.somertonenergy.com.au
GOLF CLUB TEAS
By popular demand, our teas will be extended
and we will be open from 6pm on
the following Sundays;
11, 18 25 March, and 1 April 2012
Thank you for everyone that has supported
our teas and we hope to see you
again soon.
Pasta Salad with Roasted Garlic Pesto and Prawns
Ingredients (serves 4)
400g penne
1/2 cup (125ml) olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
6 garlic cloves, skin on
100g rocket leaves, plus extra to serve
Zest and juice of 2 large lemons, plus lemon wedges to
serve
1 cup (100g) grated parmesan
500g cooked, peeled prawns
Cook the penne according to packet instructions. Drain,
toss in a little olive oil and refrigerate.
1. Preheat the oven to 170°C.
2. Place garlic on a sheet of foil, drizzle with a little oil,
wrap in foil and roast for 20 minutes. Cool slightly and
squeeze cloves out of skins into the bowl of a food
processor. Add rocket, the 1/2 cup oil and lemon juice,
and process to combine. Transfer to a bowl, stir in parmesan
and season with salt and pepper.
Place the pasta in a large bowl with 4 tablespoons pesto
(remaining pesto can be kept in the fridge for 2 days) and
zest. Toss to combine and pile onto plates. Top with
prawns and extra rocket and serve with lemon wedges. If
desired, top salad with some remaining pesto, combined
with good-quality mayonnaise.
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