The mini-frac is a scaled down fracture treatment carried out before each frac to calibrate and test rock strength before doing the main fracture treatment. In this case, the high strength of the rock encountered will limit the ability to develop a fracture long enough to be effective.

This abnormally high fracture gradient has not been observed in other Whicher Range wells and does not indicate at this stage that a similar effect will be present over the next zone.

Amity added that whilst it is disappointing to bypass the zone, if the next zones are normally pressured it could still be able to add an additional zone to compensate if needed.

Participants in the program are Amity 47.957% (operator), Korea National Oil Corporation 20%, Seoul City Gas Company 15% and GeoPetro Resources Company 17.043%.