The well penetrated the primary exploration target above the Longtom field while drilling to a depth of 2410m, the company said.

Garfish-1 is testing a seismic anomaly that directly overlies the company's Longtom gas field.

Similar seismic anomalies at Longtom had previously indicated the presence of gas-bearing reservoir sands.

Nexus is now drilling a deeper interval to confirm that the main reservoir sands of the Longtom field extend to the western part of the licence area.

"Wireline log data will be acquired once the well has reached total depth to determine if gas-bearing sands are present at this level, and if these sands are in pressure communication with the gas sands encountered in previous Longtom wells," the company said.

Before drilling, Nexus said Garfish-1 had a resource potential of 180 billion cubic feet of gas.

Nexus Energy VICP54 owns 100% of the VIC/L29.