“This is exactly double the initial contract volumes of gas for customers to CS Energy and Braemer Power project, and twice the production that the company had forecasted at the time,” QGC said in its quarterly report.

In March, the company worked over 10 Berwyndale South wells to optimise production.

This included converting six wells to free-flow completions, which increased gas production by over 6 million cubic feet per day.

“As a result of QGC’s successful well optimisation techniques, 75% of the wells at Berwyndale South are free-flowing gas,” the company said.

The workovers have also resulted in a threefold gas production increase at some of the wells, as well as reducing the need and expense of pumping equipment.

QGC said the original 23 Berwyndale South wells were now flowing about 1.8MMcfd – more than three times the rate originally forecast in the feasibility study.

Looking ahead, QGC said it planned to drill 10 new wells in the next quarter at the project.

About 15km east of Berwyndale South is the company’s Argyle-Kenya CSM field, where 15 development/appraisal wells have been drilled to date, with 14 of those completed for production.

First gas from the project will start being delivered at an initial rate of 2.5PJ/year into a contract with Incitec Pivot.

“QGC and joint venturer Origin Energy will positioned to supply the full contract volume of 7.4PJ of gas a year from October 2007,” QGC said.