The company said in a statement yesterday that perforating and flowing the well would be unable to achieve a commercial flow. The well had to completed using a brine solution which would have have had a significant detrimental effect on the permeability of the reservoir, leading Amity to say that perforation and flowing the well at this stage would be unlikely achieve a commercial flow and would expose the perforated zones to fluid invasion.

Amity was attempting to drill using air mist but the medium was unable to effectively carry cuttings to the surface and prevent the drill stem from sticking down the hole.

A company statement said the well was being suspended as a possible gas producer while the partners consider a fracture stimulation program which it hoped would be conducted in a few months.

Shares in Amity have risen in the past two days, with analysts speculating the strengthening was due to the uncertainty surrounding the future of Whicher Range-5 now disappearing with the suspension of the well.