The company said last Saturday, the well flowed over 4 million cubic feet of dry gas per day (mmcfd) and 1 mmcfd wet gas through a 32/64 choke. The rate declined as water built up in the well and when the well was shut in at the end of day for pressure build up, production was 1.3 mmcfd.

The following day the well was re-opened through a 28/64 choke and flowed at 3.8 mmcfd. As water built up in the tubing, pressure declined and production fell away to stabilise at between 200,000 and 300,000 mmcfd when the well was shut in.

Sunshine said traces of liquid hydrocarbons were evident in the produced water and were expected to increase as the water was reduced in the sandstones.

As expected, it was established that reservoir pressure is not sufficient at this point to unload water. It said further workover to lengthen the production tubing for water removal will be necessary to gain full producing capabilities of all zones. The information received from these initial tests is very encouraging and the potential of the Tardrum Field is being shown.

Sunshine said a further workover will be completed once the planned Westpac funding was in place.