Botala Energy’s Serowe CBM Project advances as key production well 3.5B reaches 83% depth with multiple support wells actively managing reservoir pressure and gas flows confirmed from pilot operations.
- 3.5B well drilling at 83% of target depth
- Support well 3.1 confirms gas flow via flaring
- Four support wells now active for reservoir pressure control
- Upcoming stimulation and extended flow testing to define reserves
- Zero safety incidents recorded in remote Botswana operations
Commercial Well 3.5B Nears Coal Seam Target
Botala Energy Ltd (ASX:BTE) is closing in on a major milestone at its Serowe Coal Bed Methane (CBM) Project in Botswana, with the Pitse Pilot’s flagship production well 3.5B drilled to 360 metres; 83% of its 435-metre target depth. This well, designed as the first fully stimulated commercial production well, is about to intersect its primary coal seams, setting the stage for a critical transition from drilling to completion and flow testing.
The drilling campaign has proceeded with methodical precision, including the successful setting and cementing of intermediate casing at 161 metres, all while navigating operational challenges such as the international fuel crisis. The field team has maintained an impeccable safety record with zero incidents reported, underscoring operational discipline in a remote African environment.
Support Wells Drive Reservoir Management and Gas Confirmation
Beyond 3.5B, Botala has brought four of the five support wells online, actively dewatering to manage reservoir pressure and prepare the field for commercial production. Notably, well 3.1 has already demonstrated gas production by flaring approximately 6.5 gigajoules per day from an unstimulated open-hole completion, confirming reservoir productivity ahead of stimulation.
Wells 3.3 and 3.5A have completed commissioning and commenced dewatering, while well 3.4 is pumping water at a steady 45 barrels per day. The final support well, 3.2, is drilled and cased, awaiting stimulation following the completion of 3.5B. This coordinated multi-well operation is designed to generate robust reservoir data, including lateral connectivity and seam productivity, essential for the upcoming Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS).
This operational progress builds on the momentum from the company’s recent A$1.45M placement which bolstered regional ownership and funded ongoing drilling and feasibility work at Serowe.
Next Steps: Stimulation, Testing, and Reserves Reclassification
Once 3.5B reaches total depth, the well will undergo a wireline logging program to characterise coal seam thickness and gas content. Following this, production casing will be installed and cemented, verified by Cement Bond Logs before perforation and stimulation commence.
The stimulation program, informed by earlier data from well 3.3, will include perforation, jetting, and step-rate testing to measure reservoir pressure response. Botala expects this test to exceed previous benchmarks at Pitse, reflecting the tailored completion design and reservoir conditions.
Following stimulation, a minimum 90-day extended flow test will establish sustained commercial gas flow rates, critical for reclassifying 454 billion cubic feet of contingent resources into 2P reserves. The results will feed into an independent Competent Persons Report and underpin the BFS, which targets a 3.5 petajoule per year LNG production from a full-field development of over 100 wells.
The company’s approach echoes the promising multi-seam gas potential previously reported from well 3.3, which confirmed strong reservoir responsiveness and effective low-cost stimulation methods at Serowe.
Strategic Reservoir Design and Connectivity Testing
The Pitse Pilot’s six-well cluster is a precision reservoir operation, with each well targeting specific questions about seam productivity, lateral connectivity, and fault boundary behaviour. A fault bisecting the pilot area displaces coal seams by 20 metres, and the well placements straddle this feature to test cross-fault drainage and validate well spacing assumptions.
Well 3.5A, located just south of 3.5B, serves as a critical connectivity indicator, positioned to detect pressure responses that will reveal whether the fault acts as a barrier or conduit. This data is vital for confirming the economics of the planned 300-plus well full-field development.
With four support wells now dewatering simultaneously around 3.5B, Botala is executing its pressure management strategy ahead of the main production well’s stimulation, a coordinated effort that will refine reservoir engineering models and support project financing.
Earlier drilling and testing phases, including the first commercial well spudding and reservoir stimulation responses, have laid the groundwork for this critical phase.
Bottom Line?
Botala’s Serowe pilot is entering a decisive phase where stimulation and extended flow testing will determine its commercial viability and set the tone for scaling up gas production in Botswana.
Questions in the middle?
- Will well 3.5B’s stimulation deliver flow rates comparable to the MAS-13 analogue well?
- How will reservoir pressure and connectivity data influence the final well spacing in the full-field development?
- What timeline can investors expect for the Competent Persons Report and subsequent reserves reclassification?