The minnow explorer said the location of the long-awaited Stitch-1 well, which is on the same fault as the Moonie oil field, has received more heavy rains over the past few days preventing the Century Rig-11 from moving onsite.

“We will need a few sunny days for the ground to dry out sufficiently to move the rig over the last three kilometres to the location,” Icon said this morning.

Elsewhere in the permit, the company is working on its Natasha-1 CSM exploration well, where drilling has so far reached a depth of 611m and a seven-inch casing set.

The well intersected the first Walloon coal seam before heavy rainfall overnight had made working conditions difficult.

“We expect to drill out of the casing shoe within the next 24 hours,” Icon said.

“The upper Walloon coal section of about 150 metres is to be drilled before electric logging, under reaming and testing commences.”

Further heavy rain is expected over the next few days, which will cause minor delays, Icon said.

Icon Energy holds a 100% interest in ATP 626P.

The wells are midway between the townships of Goondiwindi and Moonie just off the Newell Highway.