Sentry Petroleum said it will begin drilling operations on the coal seam and shale gas appraisal program in Queensland, Australia, in June 2011.

The primary target for the Depco Rig 22 in the first well, the Talundilly-CSG1, is the Winton coal and carbonaceous shale formation at about 600ft to 1,500ft.

The company said that the coal and carbonaceous shale core samples will be retrieved and analyzed for gas content, coal quality, and methane storage capacity.

Sentry Petroleum is an American energy firm with 10,600 square miles of oil, gas and coal seam gas rights in Queensland.

The company has identified over 50 separate oil, gas and coal seam gas targets and leads within its permit area.