France's Total is set to drill Papua New Guinea's first ultra-deep water exploration well in late 2018 after accelerating its work programme in the Coral Sea, writes Russell Searancke.
The company said it has selected the Mailu-1 prospect for drilling in the fourth quarter next year.
The well, which will target a carbonate prospect, sits in 2000 metres of water in Block PPL 576 in the Gulf of Papua, 60 kilometres off PNG's south coast.
