Several wells were worked over and had pumps replaced or overhauled, the partners said yesterday.

A failed pump had been replaced at Bohena-3, while at Bohena-4L the well bore had been flushed clean of coal fines.

They said Bohena-7 was put back into production while Bohena-9 had frac sand cleaned out from the Bohena seam perforations and an 8 metre new hole had been drilled to act as a sump with the pump having been lowered down the hole.

In Bohena South-1 the pump had been lowered in the hole to a depth above the Bohena seam perforations and a new, large water storage dam had been constructed and commissioned.

A new larger pump had been placed into Bibblewindi-1 and a new, large water storage dam has been constructed and commissioned.

A newly discovered Maules Creek Fm. coal seam in Coonarah-7 has been completed with casing and suspended.

“Extremely wet weather over the Christmas/New Year period caused some operational delays, with wells having to be shut-in due to lack of access to the well sites and especially lack of water storage capacity in the existing evaporation ponds – these problems have now been overcome,” the companies said.

Interests are Eastern Star Gas Limited 25% increasing up to 32.5%, Hillgrove Resources Limited 25% increasing up to 32.5% and Gastar Exploration Limited 50% decreasing to 35%.