QGC managing director Richard Cottee described the performance of Berwyndale-24 as an “exceptional result” that confirmed the quality and potential of the field.

“Gas flows from Berwyndale South-24 are almost double the banker’s financial base for the development, which was predicated on gas flows of 575,000 cubic feet per day, per well,” he said.

Since mid-February, five of the Berwyndale wells have produced gas at more than 800,000cfd and another three wells have flowed gas above 500,000cfd.

QGC said three of these high-performing wells have now been shut in to minimise flaring and preserve the gas for sale.

In the last month, field capacity reached 9.4Mcfd, with five development wells yet to be tested.

Cottee said production testing suggested Berwyndale would be able to deliver the full contracted flow of 11Mcfd, or 4 Petajoules per annum, to CS Energy within the next few weeks – two months ahead of schedule.

“Work at Berwyndale South will then switch to the doubling of gas production to meet the contract with Braemar Power Station later this year,” he said.

Commissioning of the Berwyndale South development is currently underway and QGC said it expected an announcement confirming first gas sales within days.

QGC is the operator and majority owner in the field (90%) with Sentient Gas Australia (10%).