The wells in the Oriva Throne field will be the 16th to 18th and are being bored into the Wall Seam at about 460 metres deep.

But they are being drilled as 16-hectare exception locations compared to the usual state-mandated 32-hectare well spacing, the Sydney-headquartered company said.

Doubling the well density would enhance dewatering of the seam and the increase was part of the company’s submission to the state’s authorities, director Tony McClure told EnergyReview.net.

Previous pump change-outs in the existing wall wells had successfully increased water production and decreased water levels and the new wells are expected to accelerate dewatering times to gas production in this developing coalbed methane horizon in the basin, the company said.

The Oriva project covers 505 hectares and comprises the producing Oriva Throne field and Oriva Federal, which is currently in the permitting phase.

Oriva Throne is producing from the Felix, Smith, Anderson and Wall coal seams at rates expected to increase to 50,000 million cubic feet a month.

Planet Gas has a 75.975% working interest in the 15 producing wells currently in the fields and the Oriva Throne leasehold interest is subject to a 20% land/mineral owner royalty.

The project is operated by the Emerald Operating Company and Rocky Mountain Exploration which also have the remaining 24.025% working interest.