Pure said a core and log analysis indicated about 20m of net coal in the northern extension of the Juandah and Taroom coal measures.

"The results from Gerard-1 further expand the northern extension of both coal measures," managing director Steve Beardsall said.

According to Pure, Gerard-1 along with the completed Holli-1, Cameron-1 and Daniel-1 exploration wells have established a 2C contingent resource of about 975 petajoules in ATP852P.

The company is now proceeding with a reserves certification program to establish the commercial viability of the Cameron CSM field.

The first phase of the certification program will involve the immediate drilling of two coreholes, Cameron-4 and 5.

On completion of the wells, bottom-hole pumping equipment will be installed to dewater the coals and establish long-term deliverability profiles, Pure said.

The rig will return to the Blackwater area to install further pumping equipment in the Dingonose CSM discovery permit ATP806P.

It will then continue with the company's exploration drilling campaign in the Duaringa Basin in permit ATP758P, before returning to ATP852P to continue with the Walloon certification program.