ConocoPhillips' (COP) project partner, 3D Energi, said Monday that drilling has started in the Otway Exploration Drilling Program, or OEDP, operated by ConocoPhillips Australia.

The program has now begun with the Essington-1 gas exploration well offshore in the Otway Basin, Victoria. The well was spudded on Saturday by ConocoPhillips Australia using the Transocean Equinox drilling rig, the company added.

3D Energi, which holds 20% participating interest in the OEDP, said drilling is expected to take about 32 days to reach a planned total depth of around 2,650 meters true vertical depth sub-sea, depending on operational conditions.

Essington-1 is the first of two wells in the initial phase of the OEDP, which aims to identify commercially viable natural gas reserves to help supply Australia's East Coast market, the company added.

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