The company said data from a RDT formation evaluation tool and a magnetic resonance tool had both confirmed the tight nature of the reservoirs in the primary target Boang sandstone.

Cooper added it now plans to complete the check shot survey before plugging and abandoning the well.

The shallow-water Gurame-1X appraisal well was designed to further delineate the Gurame gas field, in which Cooper has a 22.5% stake.

Cooper has previously said that the field, discovered in 1967, and 1972, has estimated recoverable reserves in the range of 400-2700 billion cubic feet plus 20-150 million barrels of condensate. It is 50km from the major Arun liquefied natural gas plant and close to gas infrastructure and markets.