Santos Starts Australia's First Shale Gas Well

Santos has commenced commercial natural gas production from its Moomba-191 shale well in the Cooper Basin. The well is flowing natural gas at a rate of 2.7 mmscf/d from the Roseneath, Epsilon and Murteree shale targets.

The well was only 350 metres from the existing pipeline network and eight kilometres from Moomba's gas processing plant, which enabled it to be brought on line quickly,  the company said.

Further drilling is planned for the area, including an ongoing vertical well appraisal program and Santos’ first horizontal shale well planned for early 2013.

Santos has a 66.6% interest in the South Australian Cooper Basin Joint Venture. The other participants are Beach Energy (20.21%) and Origin Energy (13.19%).