Santos has started commercial gas production from its Moomba-191 shale well in the Cooper Basin (South Australia). The Moomba-191 shale well is flowing natural gas at a stabilised rate of 2.7 mcf/d (27.8 bcm/year) from the Roseneath, Epsilon and Murteree shale targets.
This is the first commercial shale well in Australia and more work will be required to unlock the area’s full potential. Producing commercial quantities of natural gas from the Cooper's shale rock formations would provide the potential for ongoing energy security for South Australia and eastern states, plus valuable export revenue. 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%).