Botala Energy achieves early gas flow at Serowe Project
- Botala Energy achieved continuous gas flow earlier than anticipated during dewatering at its Pitse Pilot well 3.5B.
- The early flow resulted from an effective stimulation programme that improved gas and water movement within the coal seam.
- The company aims to increase gas production to meet a commercial benchmark of more than 70 gigajoules per day.
Botala Energy (ASX:BTE) has recorded continuous gas flow for over four days at its Serowe Coal Bed Methane Project in Botswana, significantly ahead of schedule.
Gas began flowing while water levels were approximately 60m above the coal seam, compared to the expected 20-metre water level threshold.
"To see gas flowing this early and the water level still high above the coal, it tells us the well is performing better than we planned and that the stimulation opened up far more of the Serowe coal seam than we first thought," said Botala Energy CEO Kris Martinick.
To preserve the coal structure, operators intentionally reduced the dewatering rate to a drawdown of 3m to 5m per day.
Management plans to monitor production growth to demonstrate commercial flow rates for the Serowe Project.
Following the announcement, the Botala Energy share price was unchanged at $0.079.
The broader Serowe Coal Bed Methane Project is estimated to hold a prospective resource of 7.1 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Botala Energy holds a 100% interest in the Serowe Project as it works to establish commercial gas operations in southern Africa.
