Empire said Rig 24 is currently committed to several nearby onshore Perth Basin wells with other operators, in particular, the wells being drilled at the Hovea oil discovery.

Eclipse is a 3650m test of 4-way dipping anticlinal structure, prospective for natural gas that Empire calculated to have potential volume of 557 billion cubic feet of gas in place.

Currently, Empire is still looking for farmin partners for the well, however there has been speculation that unlisted Perth minnow Ausoil NL, run by former WA Mines Minister Gordon Hill, could make its first exploration play via Eclipse.