Garcitas Ranch C-1 drilled to 10,700ft, then stopped to run logs and set intermediate casing. While drilling the interval from 9700ft to 10,300ft, strong gas shows were recorded, necessitating increasing the mud weight to 16.3 pounds per gallon, according to Antares.

Wireline log data collected indicates this well is roughly 95ft higher than the offset well and has encountered a gross Upper Wilcox interval of about 690ft.

“Approximately 120+ feet of this gross interval is interpreted to be good quality net sand with calculated porosities in excess of 20% with elevated resistivity indicating the presence of hydrocarbons,” Antares said.

A repeat formation tester verified the presence of gas and collected formation pressures and samples, according to the company. Four samples collected between 9918ft and 10,134ft confirmed the presence of gas. Formation pressures were between 8000psi and 8500psi. The logging program is continuing with a dipmeter survey and a rotary sidewall core program.

The good news for Antares is that this interval was a secondary target and the primary objective is still another 1500ft deeper.

Casing will be run over this interval prior to drilling ahead to the primary objective, according to managing director Howard McLaughlin.

“This is an outstanding result,” McLaughlin said.

“The secondary objective appears to have come in at the upper end of our pre-drill expectations and due to the fact that we are considerably updip from the offset well, we have increased confidence that the main Middle Wilcox objective in this well will be equally attractive.”

Antares has a 23.5% stake in the well. The operator is Hollimon Oil.