The well was flowed at varying pressures and rates with the calculated rate on a half-inch choke being 6.44 million cfd with a well-head pressure of about 1000 psi. The well was still unloading some fluid at the completion of the flow period.

“This is an extremely encouraging result and is comparable to and somewhat better than the initial flow achieved at the Dongara-31 well,” Arc said.

Long term flow rates are required to be able to accurately determine the potential reserves of the Arranoo pool accessed by Dongara-31 and 32.

“Both Dongara 32 and Dongara 31 will now be connected to the nearby Dongara 24 flowline and produced to the Dongara gas processing plant for a test period to acquire reservoir and production data,” the company said.

The company expects the test to start in about a week. Following testing, Arc intends to produce the Dongara Field at a level that will ensure long term supply to the company’s existing customers.

The Arranoo reservoir is at about 1,500 metres depth between the upper and lower Kockatea shale above the Dongara Sandstone reservoir. The pool extends across the central part of the Dongara gas field.

There is also potential for more wells to be drilled to access additional reserves of both gas and oil in the Arranoo pool and in the underlying Dongara Sandstone pool. Arc is also considering the potential for drilling further wells at Dongara.