"This rate was constrained by the facilities on the rig and the expected initial rate from Galoc-3 when the field comes on full production will be higher than this test rate based on analysis of the pressure data during the clean-up flow period," Otto said in a statement.

The companies said the well is now being suspended ready for connection to the Rubicon Intrepid floating production, storage and offloading vessel when it arrives in March for first commercial oil production in April.

The Energy Searcher drillship is now being moved to Galoc-4 to ready it for production, including a similar short clean-up flow period to the one undertaken on its predecessor.

The clean-up tests are designed to confirm the integrity of the well and installed completion equipment, as well as determining the well's ability to flow.

Once on production, the Galoc oilfield is expected to produce at a total rate of 15,000bopd.