May 23, 2013 - New Zealand Oil & Gas (NZOG), a partner in permit PEP 51906, expects to drill the Matuku-1 well off the coast of New Zealand in September 2013. Partners in the permit include OMV (65%) as operator, Octanex (22.5%) and NZOG 12.5%. The joint venture estimates that Matuku could hold as much as 65 MMbbls of oil which gives it the potential to become the largest offshore field in New Zealand. Matuku-1 will be drilled by the Kan Tan IV (mid-water semisub) to a target depth of 15,603 feet. An extra rig slot has been secured to drill an appraisal well in the event that Matuku-1 is successful.

May 3, 2013 - Apache and its partners in TL/2 and TP/7 are attempting their second sidetrack from the maligned Taunton-5/5H appraisal well off Western Australia. Taunton-5 was drilled to 3,677 feet when operational difficulties forced a sidetrack to be initiated on April 30, 2013. Taunton-5 ST-1 reached a depth of 3,631 feet when more unspecified difficulties forced the decision to cut casing, set plugs and abandon the sidetrack. A second sidetrack will be attempted from the top of cement at a depth of 318 feet. Drilling is being carried out by the Ensco 104 (400' ILC) in 65 feet of water. Taunton-5/5H was spud April 15, 2013 and was initially planed to take roughly 40 days to drill.