Drilling operations for a third horizontal well have commenced on Nextraction Energy Corp.’s Provost Viking light oil property in eastern Alberta, the company announced.

The well is being drilled on the company’s 50% working interest lands targeting the Viking formation at a depth of 800 m (2,625 ft) and will include a 600-m (1,969 ft) horizontal leg.

As announced July 4, the first horizontal well in the company’s 2012 capital program flow tested 210 bbls/d of light oil over the final 24-hour test period. The well is tied into the company’s oil battery and continues to exceed management’s initial production expectations. Daily oil production from the field has nearly tripled as a result of this well and Nextraction anticipates continued significant production and reserve growth over the coming months as it executes on its active capital program.