Gasco Energy Inc., Denver, (NYSE Amex: GSX) reports the Rye Patch 22-21 well on its Riverbend project in Utah's Uinta Basin had a production rate of 2.9 million cubic feet of gas per day after being shut in for 13 months.

The well (100% working interest) targets the Dakota Silt and Lower Mancos zones and had a casing pressure of 9,900 pounds per square inch when it was turned on and connected to sales.

After seven days, the well was producing 1.02 million cubic feet per day, with flowing tubing pressure of approximately 2,400 pounds per square inch on a 10/64-inch choke. The well has additional uphole pay that will be completed later.

A second well, the Rye Patch 24-21 (100% working interest) was producing 400,000 cubic feet per day in late February. Production has since been optimized and the well is flowing 450,000 cubic feet per day. The Rye Patch wells are part of the recently announced acquisition of producing properties and mineral leasehold from Petro-Canada Resources (USA) Inc.

Gasco has reduced its completion costs. In the first half of 2009, completion costs were an estimated $125,000 to $150,000 per stage. Current per-stage fracture stimulation costs are now less ten $50,000. Initial production has increased also: previously, recompleted zones were coming on at rates of 1- to 1.5 million cubic feet per day. Current recompletions are now coming on at 1.25- to nearly 2 million cubic feet per day.

Since February, the company has completed the initial stages on one Upper Mancos well and recompleted four wells.

As of March 31, Gasco operated 135 gross wells. Gasco currently has an inventory of 34 operated wells with up-hole recompletions and has one Upper Mancos well awaiting initial completion activities.

Gasco president and chief financial officer King Grant says, “Initial results from our new fracture stimulation designs for Uinta Basin completions are encouraging. We continue to move through our Uinta recompletion program and expect to continue to see improved production rates from the re-completed wells. Generally, we have less than one-third working interest in the wells that we re-completed in the first quarter and those we plan to re-complete in the second quarter. As the re-completion program continues during 2010, we expect to stabilize our production rates near current levels. We are also pleased with our Rye Patch acquisition, which has seen improved rates after field personnel have optimized production.”

Gasco has oil and gas interests in the Rocky Mountain region.