Nexus said the Crux-4 discovery, made in the South East Horst Block, could have “significant positive implications” for exploration prospectivity in the eastern part of exploration permit AC-P23.

As of yesterday morning, drilling of Crux-4 had reached a total vertical depth of 3760m and Nexus was acquiring the final suite of wireline logs. The well will then be suspended as a future producer.

Nexus managing director Ian Tchacos said the Crux-4 well intersected the top gas sand at the highest point seen in the field to date.

“We have encountered a very significant gas column in a previously undrilled portion of the field,” he said.

“This well has encountered the largest gross gas column seen in the Crux field to date.

”These results confirm the extension of the field into the South East Horst block and have positive implications for exploration prospectivity in the eastern part of AC-P23.”

Pressure measurements obtained from the well confirm that the gas intersected at this location is in pressure communication with the gas column encountered in the core area of the field and is likely to have the same gas-water contact.

Crux-4 well was the second of three wells to be drilled in the greater Crux area.

The third well, Libra-1, will be drilled in the adjoining AC-P41 exploration permit in April.