Gas flows of approximately 0.5 Mcf/d were initially produced from the Senecio-2 well in the Perth basin of Western Australia, with gas flows from the well increasing to about 1 Mcf/d within a 10-day period, AWE reported.

Well head pressure continued to increase.

The well was successfully hydraulically fracture stimulated Aug. 17 over a 5-m (16 ft) perforation interval within the Dongara and Wagina sandstones which extend from 2,643 m (8,671 ft) to 2,685 m (8,809 ft).

Minor amounts of injection fluids are now being returned to surface and the forward plan is to shut in the well to conduct pressure buildup tests and to then connect up production test equipment to enable accurate measurement of gas and fluid flow from the reservoir in addition to obtaining downhole pressure data for a full reservoir evaluation.

Joint venture partners in Senecio-2 are AWE Ltd., via subsidiaries, as operator, at 50% and Origin Energy Resources Ltd. at 50.0%.

Following the successful hydraulic fracture stimulation of two zones in the Carynginia shale; the Lower Carynginia Formation (2,890 m to 2,940 m, or 9,482 ft to 9,646 ft) and the Middle Carynginia Formation (2,824 m to 2,875 m, or 9,265 ft to 9,432 ft), on Aug. 23, the Arrowsmith-2 well has been flowing back injected fluids, with gas being consistently produced to surface during this period. Cleanup of the well is planned to continue while preparations are underway for the hydraulic fracture stimulation of the final zone in the well, the Kockatea shale, over the interval 2,639 m (8,658 ft) to 2,681 m (8,796 ft).

Joint venture partners in the Arrowsmith testing program are AWE Ltd. (via subsidiaries), 44.252%; Norwest Energy NL (operator) 27.945%; and Bharat PetroResources Ltd., 27.803%.

Two zones in the Carynginia shale were successfully hydraulically fracture stimulated Aug. 5, targeting the Middle Carynginia (2,370 m to 2,425 m, or 7,776 ft to 7,956 ft) and Upper Carynginia (2,283 m to 2,330 m, or 7,490 ft to 7,644 ft) shale, with gas flows observed from the Woodada Deep-1 well during initial flow back. Cleanup of the well continues using a combination of nitrogen lift and swabbing to return injected fluids to surface. It is planned to continue well clean up until sufficient fluids have been returned from the shale to allow accurate measurement of gas flows at surface.

AWE holds a 100% interest in the Woodada Deep operations.