Botala Energy starts CBM pilot programme in Botswana

Botala Energy, an Australian energy company, on September 4 announced the commencement of drilling for the commercial pilot production programme of its Serowe coal bed methane (CBM) project in Botswana.

The project, called Project Pitse, is a four-well drilling programme within an approximate 800m radius of the existing Serowe-3.1 well which is flowing increasing volumes of CBM gas to surface.

The objective of Project Pitse is to determine the commercial flow-rate potential within the surrounds of the Serowe-3.1 well and to convert this cluster of five wells into the first commercial production location of Project Pitse, in that region of Botala's Serowe CBM project of approximately 420,000 ha.

The first well, Serowe-3.2, was spudded on September 1 and drilling is expected to be completed within three months. The other three wells will be drilled back-to-back.

Botala is exploring and developing production of CBM from its 70% owned Serowe CBM project. The remaining 30% are owned by fellow Australian energy company Pure Hydrogen Corporation.