In backing itself to find more gas near Casino, project operator Santos picked a winner.

Santos and its partners – Australian Worldwide Exploration and Mitsui subsidiary, Mitwell Resources – went on to make two more offshore discoveries, Martha and Henry.

So far, exploration in the Casino lease, VIC/P44, has produced a 100% success rate and Santos appears confident that further finds could be made.

"The success at Henry-1 augurs well for the other prospects we have identified in the region through our ongoing active exploration program," managing director John Ellice-Flint said.

Henry could contain between 120 and 130PJ of sales gas. Martha is also seen as being a commercial producer but Santos has been tight-lipped about the extent of the field.

The $200 million Casino development is more than one-third complete and on target for start-up of gas production early in 2006.

The facility is planned to produce at about 90 terajoules a day with 90 barrels of condensate.

Participants in VIC/P 44 are: Santos Limited (operator) 50%, Peedamullah Petroleum Pty Ltd (an AWE subsidiary) 25% and Mittwell Energy Resources Pty Ltd 25%.