Oz Vintage to Start Fracking Queensland Well

Sydney-listed Vintage Energy July 8 said that the fracture stimulation of Vali-1 ST1 well, which is to be followed by flow testing, is expected to start on July 12. The Vali discovery in Queensland was announced in January this year.

The ATP 2021 joint venture (Vintage 50% and operator, Metgasco Ltd 25% and Bridgeport 25%) has awarded the Vali-1 ST1 fracture stimulation activities to Condor Energy Services. Condor is currently mobilising its equipment to site. This is expected to be completed over the coming days, Vintage said.

The Vali-1 ST1 fracture stimulation programme is planned to be six stages, five in the Patchawarra section and one in the deeper Tirrawarra / Basal Patchawarra section, at depths of between 2,810 metres to 3,140 metres.

“Flow testing will record gas flow rates from the Patchawarra Formation and Tirrawarra Sandstone, where gas was recovered during drilling operations. The objectives of the flow testing programme will be to measure total stabilised gas rates, down-hole reservoir pressure and individual zonal gas flow contribution,” the company said.

Vintage managing director, Neil Gibbins, said that the fracture stimulation of the Vali-1 ST1 well is the first of two key steps that will provide an indication of the gas flow capability of the Vali discovery.

“Vali is an important step for Vintage as we look to evolve beyond exploration and appraisal into production. The recent successful gazettal bid for Block CO2019-E (PELA 679) near Moomba, the Odin Structure in PRL 211 and the numerous prospects and leads in ATP 2021, all add up to a material footprint for Vintage in the Cooper Basin, an area where our technical team has had much success over the years,” Gibbins said.