The flowback of stimulation fluid and gas from the Halifax-1 well, located in ATP 855P onshore Australia commenced on Feb. 11, 2013, Beach Energy Ltd. said in a press release. As at 6 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2013, the flow was being constrained to 2.2 MMcf/d by a 24/64-in. choke due to temperature restrictions on elements of the surface equipment.

The company said it anticipates that the choke will be further opened as the ratio of gas to fluid in the wellstream increases.

The well reached total depth at 4,267 m (14,000 ft), after which a 14-stage fracture stimulation program was completed throughout the whole of the gas-saturated Permian target zone, the company said. Seven stages were completed in the deeper Patchawarra formation, as well as one in the Murteree shale, two in the Epsilon formation, two in the Roseneath shale, one in the Daralingie formation, and one in the Toolachee formation.

Reg Nelson, managing director of Beach, said in the press release, “Halifax-1 is the fourth vertical well to have flowed gas from the unconventional exploration program that Beach has operated to date. Each well in the exploration program is integral to the program as a whole, with various data points obtained along the way. It is anticipated that Halifax-1 will provide relevant information over the coming months that will continue to move this unconventional play toward commercialization.”