The Brisbane-based company today said the pilot program would include several wells drilled about 5km from the nearest gas pipeline infrastructure north of Roma, southwest Queensland.
“The objective is to establish gas flow rates sufficient for certification of reserves,” Sunshine said.
The pilot is scheduled to begin in November, subject to rig availability, it said.
ATP 795P includes an extension of the Walloon coal seam methane play, which is undergoing pilot testing in the adjacent ATP 336P. Sunshine said this is part of its recently sold 15% interest in the Roma joint venture.
It said it finished three core-holes in early July and is currently testing for gas desorption in cores of the Walloon coal measures.
It has also begun permeability testing of the prospective intervals in the core-holes and said it had partially completed similar tests in the Lacerta-3 core hole.
“Initial analysis of the permeability data is encouraging in this well with values of up to 70 millidarcies being recorded from coal intervals at 300 metres,” Sunshine said.
But the company said it had to abort tests in the Lacerta-2 core hole on safety grounds after it was found to be producing gas when the surface valve was opened.
