The explorer said the figure came as a result of analysis by independent group RPS Energy of recently reprocessed good quality seismic data over the Avalon and Blamore prospects.

In its report, RPS was said to have determined the Avalon and Blamore prospects to be robust large-scale closures in a series of stacked horizons and favourably located to receive charge from mature good quality source rocks.

Meanwhile, in a separate report, seismic specialists Total Depth Pty Ltd undertook a spectral attenuation analysis of the same data, in which they found both of the proposed well locations at Avalon and Blamore demonstrate moderate to strong attenuation anomalies on all zones of interest except the Poolowanna interval.

Spectral attenuation is a method of high-grading prospects, based on the theory that as seismic waves pass through gas or oil charged sands the 30-60 Hz frequency energy is selectively absorbed and so is “attenuated” in the surface response relevant to such target sands.

Central is targeting up to 6 multiple stacked horizons in the Prospects ranging from the shallowest Poolowanna Formation to the basal Permian and including what are thought to be Permian equivalents of the Cooper Basin Merrimelia and Tirrawarra Formations.