SL-1, well it was the back up plan.20 Sep 2018 13:18
All three wells in Blocks IV and V are unrelated. Different basins.
Fox-1 has bright spot on 3D and also live oil in a nearby coring well, its the most low risk of the three Block IV and V wells. Very likely to strike.
Snow Leopard-1 was a fill in well if you like, the original plan was for Falcon-1 in Block V and Wild Horse-1 in Block IV.
However the 3D which highlighted how good Fox-1 is, also showed Falcon-1 to much smaller and so it was decided to drop Falcon-1. The only drill ready target left on Block V was Snow Leopard-1 and so this is why they drilled Snow Leopard-1 to comply with the spend requirement on the license block. They had underspent on Block V, now with SL-1 the spend is over the government requirement and so the license is in full compliance. So sadly SL-1 fulfills the spend requirement and allows Fox-1 next year............but Fox-1 is the highly prospective target with live oil in coring and bright spot on 3D.
Biggest hope for me is around Fox-1.........thats the Hail Mary savior for big upside should WH-1 fail.
So yes, thats where we are, SL-1 on Block V was a quickly moved to the front drill, given the new 3D showing Falcon-1 on Block V was not ideal and Fox-1 was new and unapproved. A well had to be drilled on Block V to comply with the license terms, and so it was SL-1.
However.......... Wild Horse-1 was always planned and its the well that Shell want to see drilled. And so it is, its up next........not long to wait.