Empire sees strong gas flow rates continue from Beetaloo test

Empire Energy Ltd.’s Carpentaria-2H horizontal appraisal well in its 100%-owned permit EP 187 in Beetaloo basin of the Northern Territory continues to flow strongly over the first 30 days of production testing.

The well had yielded 2.4 MMcfd of gas during the first month of operations, equal to 2.6 MMcfd per 1,000 m of horizontal section in the Velkerri shale reservoir, the company said.

Gas composition data confirms significant methane and ethane composition with very low carbon dioxide content, about 0.88%.

Production testing continues with a shallow decline profile.

Flow back of stimulation fluids began at Carpentaria-2H on Aug. 1 following 21 hydraulic stimulation stages. The well is progressively flowing back fluids unaided with no need from artificial lift or velocity string, Empire said. Gas began flowing Aug. 5 with gas measurement beginning 2 days later and has flowed continuously since, except for a 2-day operational shut-in to run production pipework.

A peak rate of 11 MMcfd has been achieved through a 4.5-in. casing.

The sampled gas stream has a high calorific value due to the presence of long-chain hydrocarbons consistent with the previously tested Carpentaria-1 discovery well, also in permit EP 187, the company said.

The follow-up well drilling program at Carpentaria-3H and Carpentaria-4V is expected to begin in October.

The Carpentaria-3H fracture stimulation and extended production test program will begin immediately following drilling in fourth-quarter 2022.