This follows an announcement a month ago that the well had failed to encounter non-commercial gas sands in the primary Wilcox section.

In a statement yesterday, farm-in partner Sun Resources said Texon as operator was plugging back the well in preparation for a test of two gas sand pays in the secondary target Yegua section indicated on electric logs at between a depth of 2149-2210m.

“It was proposed a smaller rig would either complete these sand pays or plug and abandon the well in early January,” Sun Resources said.

The deeper zone, with an estimated 450 million feet of gas potential, will be tested first.

If this zone proves commercial, the joint venture will wait until production depletes before testing the shallower zone with about 1 billion cubic feet of estimated gas potential.

Texon has arranged to take over the production facilities of a nearby depleted shallow well, to result in a low-cost immediate hook-up to sales.

Should neither zone be successful, the well will be plugged and abandoned.

Stakeholders in the Bondi prospect are: Texon Petroleum (65%), Empyrean Energy (20%) and Sun Resources (15%).