Botala Energy’s Pitse Pilot Well 3.5B Cleared for Stimulation and Flow Testing

Well 3.5B Reaches Critical Pre-Stimulation Milestone

Botala Energy Ltd (ASX:BTE) has confirmed that its central production well 3.5B at the Pitse Pilot in Botswana is now ready for stimulation following the successful completion of casing cementing, pressure testing, and perforation. The 5½" steel production casing was cemented and pressure tested to confirm mechanical integrity, a prerequisite for the upcoming stimulation program.

CEO Kris Martinick emphasised the significance of this step, noting that the well’s integrity and zonal isolation are validated, allowing the project to advance towards production testing. The meticulous completion of each stage ensures that stimulation energy will be effectively directed into the productive coal seam.

Serowe Seam Shows Strong Reservoir Characteristics

Wireline logging revealed that the Serowe seam at well 3.5B has a total thickness of 13 metres, including an 11-metre continuous coal column with no internal breaks or weaker interbeds. This continuity and quality are ideal for stimulation, as energy will be focused entirely on productive coal rather than lost to mudstone or other formations.

Additional logs confirm a high-vitrinite, low-ash coal type, which is associated with higher gas content in Karoo-Kalahari CBM systems. Caliper measurements indicate natural fracturing and a well-developed cleat network, enhancing permeability. The lateral continuity of the Serowe seam extends across all pilot wells, exhibiting only minor variation, which supports the planned multi-well development strategy.

Upcoming Stimulation and Flow Testing Program

The stimulation program will begin with a step-rate test, a standard oil and gas procedure to determine the stimulation point and reservoir permeability. This will be followed by a multi-stage stimulation informed by previous reservoir response data from the pilot well 3.3, which recorded the strongest response to perforation and jetting.

After stimulation, a 90-day extended flow test is planned to generate critical data on gas flow rates and reservoir behaviour. This dataset will underpin an independent Competent Persons Report aimed at upgrading contingent resources to 2P reserves, a key milestone for commercial development. The stimulation rig is expected to move directly to the nearby Serowe-3.2 well once testing at 3.5B concludes.

Early Signs of Reservoir Response in Support Wells

Meanwhile, dewatering efforts continue at the surrounding support well network, with gas already detected at two wells. This early gas presence suggests the reservoir is responding as anticipated by the pilot development model, providing encouraging signs ahead of the extended flow test. The support wells are managing reservoir pressure to optimise conditions for production at well 3.5B.

Strategic Importance of the Serowe CBM Project

The Pitse Pilot represents the first phase in Botala’s broader Serowe CBM Project, which aims to develop a domestic natural gas source for power generation, industrial use, and LNG supply in Southern Africa. The project is fully owned by Botala through its Botswana subsidiary and targets LNG production of 3.5 petajoules per year from approximately 108 wells in future phases.

With environmental approvals secured and a growing operational footprint, Botala is positioning itself to contribute to Botswana’s energy security while advancing its commercial gas production ambitions. The results of the upcoming stimulation and flow testing at well 3.5B will be pivotal in shaping the next stages of development.