The first fracture stimulation of the lowest zone is flowing back the diesel frac fluid as predicted, with gas flowing to surface with the fluids after about 24 hours at a constant pressure. The company said it should take at least another 24-36 hours to flow back enough of the diesel to assess the success of the operation.

The fracturing program is being conducted over five sandstone sequences starting from the bottom zone and progressing individually to the uppermost zone.

Due to the induced fractures propagating not only outwards from the well bore, but also vertically, almost all the potential gas zones (approximately 75%) intersected in the well will be affected to some degree and have their permeability enhanced.

The favourable location of the field, 200km south of Perth and 35km south-west of the southern end of the main gas pipeline from the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline, means it can compete on price and transport tariff with gas from the North-West-Shelf.

Amity said that several companies have shown interest in taking gas from the Whicher Range field, provided a viable flow rate can be demonstrated. One of these entities has put a serious commercial proposition to Amity regarding gas supply to a nearby power generation plant.

Ownership Amity 47.957% (operator), Korea National Oil Corporation 20%, Seoul City Gas Company 15% and GeoPetro Resources Company 17.043%.