The United States-focused explorer told the market yesterday it had spudded its Federal 1-19 well, which is evaluating the Stage Coast East prospect.

Drilling is expected to take seven days to reach the total planned depth, at which time it will be logged and evaluated to determine whether casing should be run.

Based on the performance of the neighbouring field, the well will need to be fracture stimulated, Samson said.

“The evaluation has established the trapping mechanism for the Stage Coach Field, which is the adjacent producing field located 5 miles to the northwest of the Stage Coach East Project,” the company said.