On March 28, InterOil began drilling at the Raptor-1 site, as part of its US$300 million oil and gas exploration campaign in Papua New Guinea. This will be InterOil's third exploration well started in PNG since the beginning of March.

Raptor is about 20km south-west of Wabo in the Gulf Province. The other two exploration wells begun this month are Bobcat-1, about 20km north of Raptor-1, and Wahoo-1, which is near the coast about 180km south-east of Raptor-1.

InterOil expects to drill up to five additional exploration and appraisal wells in PNG in the coming 12-15 months, across almost 4 million acres in the south of the country.

The well will be drilled to a total depth of 4500 meters (2.8 miles). InterOil will announce results when the well is completed.