Hovea-12 was the first development well to be drilled at the field and follows on from the Hovea-11 well drilled in September 2004.

Arc managing director Eric Streitberg said these initial flow rates were higher than expected.

“This is an outstanding result for the Arc team,” he said.

“The well has been placed on test production only four days after rig release and will immediately add substantially to production rates from the Hovea field.”

Over the past week, the well was perforated over an 8m interval at the top of the Dongara Sandstone reservoir, where the clean-up flow was undertaken followed by a production test through the test separator.

Production testing of the well will take place through the temporary flow line until a permanent one is installed in the next fortnight, according to Arc.

Arc is operator and equal partner in the Hovea oil field with Origin Energy.