Gripen Gas announced commercial rates were obtained by a drillstem test carried out on the biogenic gas GH-2 discovery made onshore Sweden in March, according to a news release.

Three wells were drilled to appraise the discovery made in the Cambro-Ordovician Alum Shale. Two of the three wells were step-out wells that tested the prospectivity and geological development of the AlumShale away from the GH-2 discovery. The laboratory measured methane content of a gas sample collected at GH-2 is 97.5%.

In addition to the work involving GH-2, the well BY-1 (7 km, or 4 miles) east of GH-2 was pressure tested and gas flow was confirmed, the news release stated.

In other news, Gripen Gas reported Bergsstaten (Swedish Mines Inspectorate) has awarded the company the Sandon exploration license covering 162 sq km (101 miles) in the western part of Lake Vattern in Ostergotland County. The license is for biogenic gas exploration in the Alum shale formation.

The Sandon license is offshore with water depths ranging from 10 m (33 ft) to 30 m (98 ft). The section is predicted to be the deepest and thickest Cambro-Ordovician Alum shale in the Ostergotland basin, according to the release. Biogenic gas seeps are known from parts of the lakebed, often being trapped under the ice during winter.

The exploration licenses have been awarded for an initial period of three years, with the option to extend another three years, according to the release.