This followed a successful production testing program, in which the well flowed at 4 million cfd, the company said.

Marion said it would monitor the well and slowly increase sales volumes according to its performance.

Chief executive Jeff Clarke said these flows from Ballpark Canyon-1 were significantly higher than achieved by the company’s previous well completions.

“It is also a multiple of the average production achieved by wells in the historical Helper field, which averaged 340,000 cubic feet per day,” he said.

“Management now believes these results indicate that the Helper project will have a significant impact on both future reserves and production.

“It further underscores the importance of the company’s accelerated drilling program and the company’s strategy of increasing its acreage position in the project.”

Ballpark-1 is the third well completed in the Helper Project, in which Marion holds a 48.75% interest.

Results are expected soon from two more wells, Cordingley Canyon 15-1 and 15-2, which are currently being tested, Marion said.

In the next week, the company expects to spud the Cordingley Canyon 11-1 well, the first well in the recently announced accelerated drilling program.

The Helper Project, in which Australian minnow Odyssey Energy also holds a 30% stake, is located along the northern edge of the Helper Field in the same Ferron CBM trend as the Drunkards Wash CBM Field. Drunkards Wash is the largest producing gas field in Utah, currently producing 5.4 billion cubic feet per month.