Hess Australia (Offshore) Pty Ltd intends to undertake a Petroleum Activities Programme comprising of drilling one (1) exploration well in the WA-474-P permit. The exploration well will be drilled by either a semi-submersible drilling rig that is moored or operates under dynamic positioning, or a dynamic positioning drillship, with associated support vessels.
 
The Petroleum Activities Programme is located in WA-474-P in Commonwealth waters approximately 190 km north west of Dampier. Dampier will serve as the supply base for the Petroleum Activities Programme
 
Drill cuttings generated during drilling of the top hole sections will be discharged at the seabed. For the lower hole sections once the marine riser has been installed, drill cuttings will be returned to the drill rig and discharged at the sea surface below the water line. Both water based muds (WBM) and synthetic based muds (SBM) will be used during the drilling activities. A final drilling fluids system is yet to be confirmed.
 
The proposed Petroleum Activities Programme is scheduled to commence between Q4/2015 and A2/2016, with the well taking approximately 45 days to drill. The EP has risk assessed the drilling of the wells throughout the year (all seasons) to provide operational flexibility for the drill rig/drillship schedule changes and availability.