Due to strong gas shows while drilling and the potential of a new gas bearing horizon, the lower carbonate zones (725-826m gross interval) will be tested together to determine their potential. If this is a successful test and the zones show no depletion during the test, the well will be suspended for longer term production testing into a gas plant.

If the zones in the first test do not indicate enough potential on their own, then they will be plugged off and the zone between 545-555m will be tested. This zone is considered the best gas zone in the well. If this zone is determined to be commercial, the well will be suspended and readied for production.

In order to determine the potential of the upper gas zones, assuming a successful test at 545-555m, the rig will be skidded over approximately 30m and this section will be redrilled to about 560m.

The upper zones (379-414m gross interval) will be tested in the twinned hole. Amity considered this to be the safest way, and potentially the cheapest way to determine the potential of this zone without risking damage to a productive zone lower in the hole.

In the success case of any of these tests, an offset well will be drilled immediately following this well to determine the lateral extent of the gas accumulation.

Development of the Alpullu will help to offset the company's recent slide in fortunes due to the downgrading of its core asset, the Turkish Gocerler gas field. Last week Amity said preliminary studies now anticipate there may be a further 20-25% cut in the size of the Original Gas In Place determinations announced on 1 September this year. This was a P90 figure of 32 bcf, P50 of 44 bcf and a P10 figure of 56 bcf.

After sliding to six month lows shares in Amity have recovered to 99 cents at the time of printing.