The Gradizza-1 exploration well in the La Prospera license north of Bologna, Italy, encountered good gas shows and a drilling break in the target Pleistocene-age sand interval, BRS Resources Ltd. said in a news release. BRS is participating in the well through its membership interest in AleAnna Resources.

Po Valley Energy Ltd. carried out initial testing of the Quaternary gas-bearing level of the Gradizza-1 exploration well, the release said. After coring and logging, operations confirmed the presence of a gas-bearing reservoir exceeding 10 m (33 ft ) in thickness and 7-in casing was run and cemented to a total depth of 1,028 m (3,372 ft). The well was perforated from 856 m to 860 m (2,808 ft to 2,822 ft), gravel packed, and 2 3/8-in production tubing installed.

The initial shut-in tubing pressure recorded was 1,110 psi, indicating original pressures and no depletion by any area production, the release said. Initial flowing tubing pressures and rates varied by choke size and averaged over 220 psi in flowing tubing pressure with varying rates between 5,000 cm/d to 7,000 cm/d (175,000 cf/d to 250,000 cf/d).

Although no formation water was associated with gas production during the test, the cleanup process is not complete, according to the release. The flow rate is expected to improve once cleanup is achieved. The completion zone appears to have minor skin damage that may clean up when the well is released to production or may require stimulation to achieve production potential. PVE will take the next few months to review the data and consider rigless testing to better evaluate the real reservoir capability.