The Taringa South-1 well flowed gas at a stabilised rate of 370,000 cubic feet per day during a test at 145m over the open hole section of the well, reported Bow, Victoria Petroleum and Roma Petroleum.
Post-gas flow-testing water flow was estimated at 407 barrels of water per day.
"This is an excellent result for Bow's first coal seam gas exploration well and is a very positive first step for the Don Juan project which has the potential to place the company on the fast track towards substantial CSG reserves as early as next year," Bow managing director Ron Prefontaine said.
Taringa South-1 is the first of three wells planned for the project, which combines Bow's ATP 593P permit and an adjoining tenement, ATP 771P, belonging to Victoria Petroleum.
Bow plans to case and suspend the wells as future pilot production holes to carry out flow and production testing.
Depending on results, a reserves certification process should begin early in 2008.
The 1158-square kilometre joint venture area is immediately west of Sunshine Gas' Lacerta project with Taringa being about 25km from Lacerta.
Bow interprets the primary CSM fairway as continuing west from Lacerta, extending into the Don Juan project area.
The Walloon Coal Measures are interpreted to be present and gassy over the entire JV area, with proposed well depths between 250-450m.
The nearest natural gas pipeline is 8km east of the permit.
Partners in the Don Juan JV are operator Bow (45%), VicPet (45%) and Roma CBM (10%).