This is the first well in the region to average more than 500,000 cfd, equating to about 0.2 petajoules of gas production per annum from this well alone, according to QGC.

Berwyndale South-9 forms part of the Berwyndale South pilot in PL 201 in ATP632P where 380 petajoules of 3P gas reserves have already been certified by international reserves experts, Netherland Sewell & Associates.

“This new level of gas flow from Berwyndale South-9 highlights the success of QGC’s latest well design and gives a new perspective to the potential coal seam gas resources both at Berwyndale South and more broadly across QGC’s tenements in the Surat Basin,” said managing director Richard Cottee.

“But the significance of Berwyndale South-9 extends far beyond the enhanced reserves. This level of gas flow, if reproduced across the field, would have a major positive impact on the economics of gas production.”

QGC plans to replicate this successful well design in another three wells to be drilled in the first quarter of 2005 at the Berwyndale South field. Testing has now begun on wells incorporating this design at QGC’s Argyle East pilot in ATP620P.

QGC and CS Energy Ltd each have a 50% interest in PL 201 which includes the Berwyndale South field.