After rectifying lost circulation, the well reached reaching a total depth of 3719 metres.

The company said the gas shows encountered in the primary ojective Wilcox Formation sands were comparable to those recorded in the Shefcik-1, on the neighbouring Mesquite A Prospect in Jackson County.

Petrophysical logging is about to start to further evaluate these shows, according to Strike.

Meanwhile, the perforating, fraccing and production testing program has started on the Shefcik-1 well and is expected to run for about three weeks. Three separate potential gas intervals are planned for production testing, Strike said.

Managing director Simon Ashton said each interval would be stimulated by fraccing the formation to enhance production rates and gas recoveries.

“The productive intervals will be commingled to produce the final production test rate from the well,” Ashton said.

“The commerciality of the well will only be confirmed once the final commingled production rate over a period of several days is determined. This will take place in around three week’s time.”

Spudded on November 2, Shefcik-1, which reached a total depth of 3658 metres, also targeted the Wilcox Formation sands.

Strike Oil has also announced a change to the drilling sequence. Upon completion of Webernick-1, the drilling rig will move to the Shefcik-3 location, not to Shefcik-2 as previously reported, Ashton said.

“Based upon the results from Shefcik-1 and Webernick-1 wells, the Shefcik-3 location is now considered the best commercial follow-up location,” he said.

The Shefcik-3 well site is about 366 metres south-southwest of the Shefcik-1 bottom hole location.

Strike holds a 26.25% interest in Webernick-1 and Shefcik-1, with Cypress E&P Corporation as well operator.