Sydney-listed Empire Energy on February 22 announced a resource upgrade for its 100% owned and operated EP187 tenement located in the Beetaloo sub-basin, Northern Territory.  

Empire said that Netherland, Sewell & Associates has prepared an updated independent resource report utilising the technical results of the Carpentaria-1 drilling programme. The best estimate prospective gas resource for EP187 has increased by 47% to 3.5 trillion ft³. 

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The company has booked a maiden best estimate prospective condensate resource of 27mn barrels. It has also booked a maiden best estimate contingent gas resource of 41bn ft³ in the immediate vicinity of the Carpentaria-1 well location. 

“The increased prospective gas resource volumes, maiden assessment of valuable liquid hydrocarbons, and maiden booking of contingent gas resources in the vicinity of Carpentaria-1 validate the decision we made to drill Carpentaria-1 last year amid challenging economic conditions,” managing director Alex Underwood said.  

Underwood added that Empire will start flow testing programme at Carpentaria-1 to assess which zones within the Velkerri formation are likely to provide the optimal flow rates. The company has received Northern Territory government approvals to carry out hydraulic stimulation and flow testing of the well. Tendering for the hydraulic stimulation and flow testing is well advanced, Empire said, with operations expected to start in Q2 2021.

“While we prepare for this programme, we are also continuing to advance opportunities to commence commercial production utilising existing infrastructure and markets,” Underwood said.