Apache Norwest, the operator of WA 261P, is yet to advise whether it intends to drill the Hestia-1 prospect that is also located in the permit area.

The Hestia Oil prospect has up to 23 million barrels of oil potential.

The partners in Gats and Hestia are Apache (operator and 45.1%), Strike Oil (16.2%), Victoria Petroleum (12.5%), Bow Energy (10%), Tap Oil (10%) and Sun Resources (6.15%).

Meanwhile, Bow plans to conduct a five well drilling program during the September quarter.

Gats-1 was one of the first two in that plan, but things are looking better at the other Bow well spudded last week - Pickabooba South-1 in New South Wales.

Bow spudded Pickabooba South-1 well in the Clarence Moreton Basin on August 2 and is now preparing to case and cement the well. Air drilling is due to start on August 9 or 10 and a crane to set the 178 millimetre casing is due to arrive later today.

The well, 38 kilometres south-west of the town of Casino, is testing a four-way closed structural prospect with a 2P recoverable gas potential of 35 petajoules within the intra Ripley sandstone. Secondary targets include the Gatton and basal Bunbdamba sandstones that had hydrocarbon shows in Pickabooba-1.

Bow holds 87.5% of PEL 432, the permit covering the Pickabooba South-1 prospect.