The six seams were encountered in the main CSM target interval within the Craven and Avon Subgroups of the Gloucester Coal Measures. The 7.2m Bowen Road Upper seam was the thickest coal intersected at a depth of 668m, the Melbourne-based company said.
“The gas volumes recorded onsite from core samples taken from the Bowens Road Upper seam show significant gas volumes at this depth over short time periods, which suggests the seam could have appreciable permeability,” Chief Financial Officer Ric Sotelo said.
“Coal cores will be tested for total gas content and gas composition, with results expected in June.”
The main coal seams in this hole will now undergo permeability testing, with results available in July once a second corehole is completed, the company said.
LMGC1 was drilled about 5km from the Stratford Prospect, where nine previous CSM cored wells have determined a 90-petajoule estimated gas in-place resource in a 5 square kilometre area.
The Lucas rig will now move to a second well site, where it is expected to start drilling in mid-May. This second cored well is designed to define the resource base to the north.
In addition to the two coreholes, the joint venture expects to resume production testing of the LMG03 well this month. This well was flowing 667,000 cubic feet of gas per day, before testing stopped to replace a pump.
Molopo’s joint venture partner in the Gloucester Basin project is Lucas Coal Seam Gas (70%), which is also the project’s operator. Molopo’s interest in this permit is 30%.
