The Queensland-based company said the Harcourt-5 horizontal well would form part of a new medium radius production test when connected to the Harcourt- 4 vertical well.

With Anglo Coal Australia as operator, the well is being drilled south of the existing Harcourt 1, 2 and 3 wells.

Molopo says the new Harcourt well will test the southern Harcourt area, which has thick, structural, undisturbed coals relatively close to existing infrastructure.

The Harcourt-5 lateral has a planned total depth of 1380m, of which about 750m are to be drilled within the target seam. This is the fifth production test well to be drilled in the Harcourt/Bindaree area, which is considered a northern extension of the Mungi Field.

Before drilling began on this well, the operator drilled three exploration chip holes that confirmed target seam thickness, depth, continuity and structure.

Molopo said results from Harcourt-5 would help in reviewing the field’s reserves and supplement information in an application for a petroleum lease covering 178 square kilometres immediately north of the Mungi Gas Field in PL94.

Last October, an independent report by Netherland Sewell & Associates estimated the Mungi Gas Field contained proven reserves of 21 petajoules, proven and probable reserves of 58PJ and proven, probable and possible reserves of 151PJ.

The Harcourt/Bindaree area was previously credited with total reserves of 63PJ, of which 24PJ were in the 2P category. Molopo said Netherland Sewell were planning to undertake a review of these reserves, which could include additional production information from the proposed new well.

All reserve reports were commissioned by Molopo and Helm Energy-Australia prior to Anglo Coal (Dawson) and Mitsui Coal Holdings’ involvement in the project areas.

PLA210/ATP564P participants are Anglo (operator with a 25.5% stake), Mitsui (24.55%), Molopo (25%) and Helm (25%).