In a statement yesterday, the Brisbane-based company said the core holes would provide technical information to help move the project towards reserves certification, as well as expand the understanding of how far the Walloon CSM fairway extends in its acreage.

Also at Lacerta, Sunshine expects to start dewatering operations in the next few weeks at the four pilot wells drilled and completed late last year.

In addition, the Mitchell Rig 101 is expected to arrive on location next week to begin the first of two additional four well pilot projects. Sunshine said production from these pilots was designed to expand the proven and probable reserves.

Meanwhile in ATP 645P, Sunshine said it has finished cleaning-out the Overston-1 well bore, but was still waiting on a coiled tubing unit before it could re-enter and deepen the well using under-balanced techniques.

Next month, the company also plans to start a two-well drilling program, using the Century Drilling Rig 7, designed to significantly increase Overston’s gas reserves.