Senex Energy Limited advises that a comprehensive program of hydraulic fracture stimulation is underway at the Sasanof-1 unconventional gas exploration well in the southern Cooper Basin permit PEL 516 (Senex 100%).

Perforation of the first zone is underway, and the injection test will commence shortly.

Senex will perform a multi-zone stimulation over the next 11 days to confirm the gas production potential of Sasanof-1 right through the Permian section. This includes the Roseneath and Murteree shales as well as the tight sands of the Patchawarra Formation.

The extensive program was designed following analysis of data from Sasanof-1 and the neighboring exploration well Allunga Trough-1, where a suite of “mini fracs” were conducted in early 2012.

Sasanof-1 is the first of three dedicated unconventional gas wells to be drilled in PEL 516 (Senex 100%) in the 2011/12 financial year.

The well is located 40 kilometres north west of the successful Vintage Crop-1 well, which delivered an oil discovery and showed very favorable conditions for unconventional gas.