Operator AWE revealed on Tuesday the estimated gross pre-completion well cost had risen to $99 million, up from a pre-drill estimate of $55 million, with completion costs expected to come in at an additional $12 million.

The well was hit with problems during drilling, with mechanical drill string difficulties forcing the bottom part of the hole to be abandoned in March, while last month it was unable to drill past an obstruction in the lower portion of a initial sidetrack forcing it to drill a second sidetrack.

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