In addition, a deeper Cretaceous zone registered gas over a 45 metre-plus thick zone of inter-bedded sandstones and shales, correlating with a similar occurrence in an historic well nearby in the same stratigraphic interval.

Pacrim expects testing of these zones consecutively from deepest to shallowest to start early in the New Year.

Meanwhile, steady progress was being made in the Red Bluff Ranch 1-16 well, the company said.

Spudded on December 5, the well had reached 1370 metres and was set to reach 1680 metres, the company reported this morning.

Pacrim has a 100% working interest in both of these wells and has more than 50,000 acres under lease in this area of the northern Sacramento Basin.