Mitchell Rig 181 completed the core hole and has moved to work on Atria-5.

Atria-8 is the first of seven core holes designed to assess the extent, thickness, gas content and permeability of the Permian Fair Hill formation in ATP 684P.

The well reached a total depth of 270m intersecting thick gaseous coals with strong geological correlation with Atria-1 and 2, drilled last year.

Sunshine said it would implement a pilot drilling program to determine the deliverability of the coal seams if appraisal of the core hole program is successful.

Meanwhile, the company said production testing at the Lacerta CSM field is gaining pace with the completion of the Lacerta-44 pilot well.

The well was completed using Eastern Well Services Rig 15 and is set to begin de-watering within the week. Work at Lacerta-44 follows earlier completion of the Lacerta-43 pilot well, which is now online.

Both Lacerta-43 and 44 are single well pilots designed to optimise the productivity of the eastern part of the Lacerta project area.

Sunshine said Rig 15 would now move to Lacerta-41 and 42 single well pilots for similar preparation.