The Perth-based company yesterday said it had completed testing the third and final interval and that, following a shut-in period for pressure build-up, the uppermost zone (from 1680m to 1710m) had produced a maximum stabilised flow rate of about 3650bopd of 18.6 degrees API crude through a 1-inch choke.

The same zone had earlier flowed at a stabilised rate of about 2100bopd through a 36/64-inch choke. Combined total flows from all three zones had been about 12,050bopd.

Hardman said this concluded the testing program at Waraga-1 that had been designed to assess formation productivity and to acquire good quality fluid samples. The well had now been plugged and suspended for completion and potential future production.

The rig and testing equipment would now be relocated to the Mputa-1 location for flow testing of similar oil-bearing intervals to those tested at Waraga. This should start in early August.

In addition, a flow test would be attempted from fractured basement lithologies where hydrocarbons were encountered during the drilling of the Mputa well – an additional play type to those already tested at Waraga.

“We are very pleased with the test results at Waraga, as the strong flows from all zones are indicative of highly permeable reservoirs,” said Hardman managing director Simon Potter.

“We continue to assess the commercial scale of the Waraga-Mputa area and our immediate development options.

“The discoveries to date have significantly reduced the risk on other prospects, both onshore as well as offshore under Lake Albert, where our focus is on the material potential in likely better-developed sections of the rift basin.”

He said the planned future program would see the Hardman-Tullow joint venture drill a further three wells. “We look forward to a very active period assessing this region.”

Equities in Block 2 are Hardman (operator with a 50% stake) and Tullow Oil (50%).