Annual Report 2004 17
2005 WILDCAT EXPLORATION PROGRAM
Gulf of Suez
RAD 1, NZB A, NZB B,
NZB C,Khufu, Pawnee
Gulf of Mexico
Cougar, Thunder
East Java Basin
Agung, Herbras, 
Banjar Panji
Denison Trough
Greenmount, Yamala
Otway Basin
Pecten East, Lindsay
WA Basins
Hurricane, Little Joe, Brick
Landing 
Bonaparte Basin
Caldita, Phoenix
Kutei Basin 
Hiu Aman, Raksasa, Orca, Pangkal
Gas
Oil
HIGH IMPACT DRILLING 
IN 2005 
The 2005 exploration program 
has the highest resource potential
of any program undertaken 
at Santos.
Santos is planning a large, high
impact drilling campaign that is
already well underway.
Santos plans to drill 25 wells and
will invest $150 million testing
prospects within its expanding
domestic and international
exploration portfolio – up 19%
from the $126 million spent on
exploration in 2004.
Oil is the main focus of the 
2005 program with most activity
in the Kutei and East Java Basins
offshore Indonesia, the Gulf of
Suez in Egypt, the Bonaparte
Basin in the Timor Sea and the
Carnarvon Basin offshore 
Western Australia.
The 2005 program reflects 
the increasing materiality of
Santos’ exploration portfolio 
and continues the emphasis on
more globally-focused exploration
as an important part of the
Company’s growth strategy.
Santos has already had drilling
success early in 2005 with the
Hiu Aman 1 well – the first to be
drilled by Santos in the Donggala
PSC. Hiu Aman 1 has indicated
the presence of a prolific
hydrocarbon system in this area.
The discovery should add other
lower risk prospects to Santos’
exploration portfolio. A 
multi-well drilling program 
will be undertaken in Santos’
Kutei Basin PSCs during 2005.
Another gas discovery has 
been made at Hurricane 1 in 
the Carnarvon Basin, offshore
Western Australia. While both
wells were discoveries, they
require further evaluation to
determine their commercial
significance.
SAN165 WWW Text  30/3/05  12:07 PM  Page 17