The company said the CL&F-30-1 well has been temporarily abandoned at a depth of 13,163 feet – over 350ft short of its proposed total depth.

“In the company’s view it is unlikely that the AVO anomaly has been tested,” Petsec said.

“While an LWD tool was used, electric line logs could not be run due to the deteriorating hole conditions.”

Petsec said it would decide in the next month whether to sidetrack or plug and abandon the well.

It comes after Petsec’s first well, CL&F 28-1, in the onshore Louisiana project was deemed a failure after encountering poor quality sands in August.

The group of prospects are about 110km southwest of New Orleans in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.

Petsec holds a non-operating 23.53% working interest and 13.25% net revenue interest in the project.