“This well was drilled, completed, tested and selling gas within six weeks of spudding,” said managing director Howard McLaughlin.

“The operator has informed Antares that the second zone in a multi-zone testing programme yielded a commercial flow of gas and was immediately produced into a sales line that had already been connected.”

The operator reports that the flow rate from the zone, which was restricted by surface equipment, was about 700 Mcf/d at a pressure of about 2000 psi.

The flow rate from the well is expected to take a few weeks to stabilise, according to Antares. Operationally the lower commercial gas zone must be produced first before the remaining overlying zones can be tested and produced.

“This is an outstanding result from only one sand unit with significant potential existing within the remaining identified but untested gas sands,” McLaughlin said.

Antares Energy holds a 25% working interest in this prospect. The company is already producing from two commercial gas wells in Ellis County, Oklahoma and is currently drilling at other low-risk prospects in Texas and Oklahoma.