The company said this would be followed by development drilling targeting the greater part of the field that has so far remained undrilled due to its location below a United States naval air station.

It added the joint venture is targeting a significant increase in the field's current 3P reserve of 68.8 billion cubic feet of gas equivalent as well as increases in production and cash flow.

"The 3D seismic survey over the West Flour Bluff gas field has the potential to add significant 3P reserves to a significant US asset in which we have a 20% working interest," Sun managing director Matt Battrick said.

"The 3D seismic survey will also allow us to better position development wells which will be directionally drilled to target both new field structural ‘sweet spots' and any unswept pockets in the field under the naval air station."

These new development wells should at least double or treble total production from the field, acording to Battrick.

Partners in West Flour Bluff are operator Texas Crude Energy as well as Australian juniors Sun, Victoria Petroleum and Aurora Oil & Gas.