Ausdrill is pleased to announce its entry into the Australian CSG/CBM market through a joint venture with Tom Browne Drilling Services (NSW) to form Energy Drilling Australia.

Energy Drilling Australia is a new company offering high quality exploration capabilities combined with cost efficiencies and a safety focus to the gas market of Australia.

Unprecedented interest in LPG as the next major source of energy for the world population has created a demand for quality exploration services. Energy Drilling Australia will meet that demand with a high speed and high capacity drill rig to source Coal Seam Gas (CSG) or Coal Bed Methane (CBM).

The operations moved a step closer to commencement when the first rig, built and imported from Canada, arrived in Australia at Christmas 2009. The rig, a Foremost Explorer III-65, has already been made compliant with American Petroleum Institute (API) standards and is currently undergoing modifications to meet Australian gas company requirements beyond the API.

Unlike many of the rigs currently working in the CSG/CBM market in Australia, the Foremost Explorer III-65 is mounted on a quad axle trailer making it easier and more cost effective for moving. The rig is classified as a “single” specifically designed for gas drilling and has been proven in the gas drilling market of North America. All drilling functions are controlled via the remote console which can be mounted in the “doghouse.”

Equipment such as the blow out prevention equipment (BOP), doghouse/water-tank/tool-room building, mud-tank building, pumps, combination building to house the day fuel tank, BOP controls, compressor and generator, pipe tubs and handler have also been under construction in Edmonton, Canada. Much of this is on its way to, or has already arrived in Australia for electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic connections to Australian standards.

Operational personnel have been identified and secured for Energy Drilling Australia, including a Rig Manager with extensive experience with the Foremost III-65 in oil and gas fields around the world.

Energy Drilling Australia’s rig minimises disturbance to the natural ecology of exploration areas – the only ground disturbance caused by this rig is the drill hole itself. Full independent rig operation is expected by mid to late April 2010, with the first exploration areas located in Queensland and New South Wales. For more information, visit the Energy Drilling Australia website