The company said the well reached total depth of 14,810 feet (4514m) on January 31 and is currently tripping out of hole.

Total horizontal section drilled is 4684ft and the bottom hole location is 5319ft displaced from the vertical pilot hole, it said.

“Gas and oil shows recorded during the reporting period were essentially the best seen in the drilling operation, with gas shows being recorded between 407 to 2510 units, with shows being recorded at total depth,” Samson said.

The company said a black oil cover is noted over the shale shaker and drilling fluid losses have continued with a cumulative total of 1040 barrels of fluid being lost.

This is interpreted to indicate permeability in the reservoir being drilled.

Harstad 1-15H is targeting the oil-productive Bluell Formation, which is developed in the oil field using horizontal completions. The company said the well has effectively evaluated and will access the Bluell Formation across the entire diagonal width of Section 15 (640 acres) and is expected to effectively drain this area.

“Perhaps most importantly it has established that the Bluell is porous and oil saturated across the entire horizontal section and therefore sets up two development locations one in Section 14 and one in Section 23,” the company added.

Samson’s working interest in the well is 34.5%. Due to ownership differences across the leased area, the company said its total working interest in the prospect is 41%.