Santos flows shale gas form Cooper basin in Australia

Oil and gas producer Santos has announced the successful flow of shale gas from the Moomba-194 vertical shale gas well in Cooper basin, Australia.

The well, flowing gas at an average rate of three million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d), is a follow-up to the existing successful shale gas well Moomba-191 within the company’s Cooper basin unconventional resource exploration programme.

According to the Australian company, the well was drilled to a depth of 3,368m to appraise the gas potential in various unconventional and shale plays.

Following completion of stimulation activities, the well has been on production for over one week and recorded a gas flow of 3.1mmscf/d at 1,075psi through a 28/64in choke.

The well demonstrates a potential material extension to the Moomba North field and also proves flow from multiple shale gas targets located outside of structural closure.

It also represents a further step towards commercialisation of the Nappamerri Trough. where the company has an active exploration programme underway, including its first horizontal shale well, Roswell-2.

Santos eastern Australia vice president James Baulderstone said that Moomba-194 is another milestone in the company’s ongoing programme to unlock the large Cooper Basin unconventional resource.

"Santos’ deep understanding of the Cooper Basin, plus our access to critical infrastructure, enables us to lead the way in realising Australia’s unconventional gas potential," Baulderstone added.