Bass Oil Boosts Output and Advances Vanessa Gas Field Plans
Bass Oil reported a 3% production increase in June 2026, driven by Indonesian output and Cooper Basin gains. The Bunian 6 well drilling is underway, expected to double group production, while the Vanessa gas field acquisition opens new gas sales and commercialisation pathways.
- June group production up 3% to 6,746 barrels
- Bunian 6 well drilling started, due online late August
- Vanessa gas field acquisition completed, recommissioning in progress
- Cooper Basin oil price averaged A$116.58 per barrel
- Encouraging seismic results support Kiwi gas development
Production Growth Driven by Indonesia and Cooper Basin
Bass Oil Limited (ASX:BAS) posted a modest 3% increase in total oil production for June 2026, averaging 225 barrels of oil per day (bopd) across its operations. The group produced 6,746 barrels in total, with sales revenue of A$561,477. Indonesian fields contributed strongly, with 4,219 barrels net to Bass and an average oil price of US$77.48 per barrel. Meanwhile, Cooper Basin output rose 4% to 2,527 barrels, though sales were temporarily constrained by road closures due to rain.
Bunian 6 Well Drilling Targets Production Boost
Drilling commenced on the Bunian 6 development well on 5 June, with operations expected to wrap up by late July and production to start by late August. This well is projected to double Bass Oil’s group production, a significant uplift that could reshape near-term output profiles. The Indonesian Tangai-Sukananti fields, including Bunian, remain a key growth engine for the company.
Vanessa Gas Field Acquisition Opens East Coast Gas Market
Bass completed its acquisition of the Vanessa gas field in mid-June, a 100% owned asset in the Cooper Basin featuring a gas processing facility and a 5-kilometre pipeline connected to the regional gas network. Engineering studies are underway to recommission the facility, aiming for first gas sales into the east coast market by year-end. This acquisition not only provides immediate gas sales potential but also offers opportunities for reserve growth through fracture stimulation of conventional and tight gas formations, as well as advancing exploration of deep coal resources within the permit.
Kiwi Gas Field Development and Seismic Insights
Progress continues on the Kiwi gas field, where GPA Engineering is updating the pre-FEED study ahead of a final investment decision. Bass secured a $3.5 million grant from the South Australian Government to accelerate the Kiwi pipeline development. Meanwhile, reprocessing of the Dundinna 3D seismic survey is nearly complete, yielding encouraging results that enhance reservoir imaging. These efforts feed into a broader strategy to commercialise a new Triassic gas play in the northern Cooper Basin, with detailed geochemical studies underway to better understand hydrocarbon sources.
Cooper Basin Joint Venture and Deep Coal Commercialisation
The Santos-led Cooper Basin joint venture is actively pursuing a commercial pilot for deep coal gas resources, drilling two wells over the next 12 months using advanced well technologies and multistage fracking. The success of this program could directly benefit Bass’s own commercialisation plans within the same geological formations, adding a layer of optionality to the company’s gas portfolio.
Bottom Line?
Bass Oil’s June update signals steady production growth and strategic asset expansion, but execution on Bunian 6 and Vanessa gas field milestones will be critical to sustaining momentum.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the Bunian 6 well meet its production targets and timeline?
- How quickly can Bass recommission Vanessa gas facilities to start east coast gas sales?
- What impact will Santos’s deep coal pilot have on Bass’s commercialisation prospects?
