Webernick-1 will be drilled to a proposed depth of 12,500 feet (3,810 metres) to test the Wilcox Formation sands.

Shefcik-1, which spudded on 2nd November, is currently at a depth of 10,646 feet (3,245 metres). Its primary objectives are expected to be encountered in the remaining 1,500 feet (457 metres).

Strike Oil managing director Simon Ashton said gas shows have been recorded towards the base of the current drilled section, which would be further evaluated at a later date.

Mesquite A has 15-20bcf of gas potential and the adjacent Mesquite B Prospect has 10-15bcf, according to Ashton.

Both wells are targeting the reservoir formation on the same broad structure in which competitors in adjacent leases have drilled six wells in the last eight months that have produced test results of between 5.4 to 16.9 million cubic feet of gas per day per well.

“Success in either well will have a significant material impact on the value of Strike Oil due to the significant level of interest – 26.25% – in each prospect, the size of the prospect and the current high gas price in the region of greater than US$10 per thousand cubic feet,” Ashton said.

Strike’s previous three-well Texas program produced a string of dusters.