Mobil Discovery Off Western Australia.

FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 4, 1998--Mobil Corporation Wednesday announced that its affiliate, Mobil Exploration and Producing Australia Pty Ltd (MEPA), has made another discovery of natural gas and condensate on acreage it acquired through its purchase of Ampolex in 1996.

This latest discovery well, John Brookes 1, flowed at a combined rate of 53 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of natural gas and 450 barrels of condensate from a series of two drill stem tests through a maximum 60/64-inch choke.

The well is located in permit area WA-214-P, approximately 30 miles northwest of Barrow Island in the Carnarvon Basin off the northwest coast of Australia.

It has been drilled to a total depth of 12,270 feet in 230 feet water depth.

"This discovery adds to the significant gas resources we obtained offshore northwestern Australia through our Ampolex purchase," said M. W. Scoggins, President, International Exploration and Producing.

MEPA is the operator of the well and has a 35 percent interest in permit WA-214-P together with Santos Ltd (25%), Apache Oil Australia Ltd. (20%) and Alberta Energy Canada International (Australia) Pty Ltd (20%).

Mobil is a participant in the Gorgon LNG project, and has recently made oil discoveries (Woolybutt and Pitcairn) and the Athena gas and condensate discovery in the area as well as the Moran oil discovery in Papua, New Guinea.

MEPA's main producing interests in the region include the Wandoo (60 percent owner and operator) and Griffin (35 percent interest) oil fields. MEPA also has interests in the Kutubu and Gobe oil fields in Papua, New Guinea.