The rig has cored through the Beaumont and Morley coal measures, intersecting approximately 28mt of gassy coal (based on field logging) and is now approaching basement at a current depth of 1,000m. The Beaumont coal measures were intersected at 597m with approximately 9m of coal cored through the section.
The Morley coal measures were intersected at 758m and have now encountered 19m of gassy coal. The results are so far are very encouraging with 51m desorption samples taken for gas content and further laboratory analysis from the 28m of coal. OM-4 is a 2km westerly step out from previous drilling and should materially extend 3P reserves, the company said.
The well was programmed to be drilled to basement (originally estimated at 1,100m) in order to tie existing seismic lines and test for additional coal measures below the target Morley seams in the Ohai basin. OM-4 will be the first well to reach basement in this portion of the prospect and will therefore confirm the extent of the coal bearing sequence in the area.
Upon reaching total depth, the well will be geophysically logged and then suspended for future recompletion as a production well.
Within the next six months the work program for the Ohai area will include the drilling of a three to five well pilot program to establish the company’s tranche of 2P reserves and realize the identified near term commercialization opportunities with industrial gas off-take partners.
Immediately following the completion of OM-4, the rig will be mobilized to the North Island to complete the remainder of the current drilling program.
