Ottoman said the three potential gas-bearing sandstone intervals with reservoir characteristics were interpreted at the following depths: 363 metres to 370m, which coincided with the main amplitude anomaly; 413m to 416m in the main objective zone and 878m to 880 m in the secondary objective zone.

“These will now be investigated with repeat formation tests - wireline tests - before deciding on running production casing and flow testing,” Ottoman managing director Dr Jaap Poll said.

Spudded on December 8 using the M7000 rig, Bati Umur-1 was set with 13 3/8 inch surface casing at 49m and at 350m with 9 5/8 inch intermediary casing. Drilling continued in an 8 ½ inch hole to a total depth of 1,052m.

Last Friday, Ottoman announced that Bati Umur-1, in Edirne licence AR/PTK-MER/3839, had encountered a sequence of sand and shale intervals of the main objective Danismen and Osmancik Formations.

It said the Bati-Umur prospect had a positive geochemical anomaly at surface, which indicated mini gas seepage and strong amplitude anomalies on seismic coinciding with interpreted reservoir intervals.

Last month, Ottoman farmed-out 15% of its working interest in the Edirne Licence to Incremental Petroleum. Under the terms, Incremental will fund a future exploration program to a cap of A$3 million.

Following the farm-in, interest holders in the licence will be Ottoman 65%, Incremental 15%, Merty Energy and Petraco (joint operators) 10% each).