D3 Energy Ltd (ASX:D3E, OTCQX:DNRGF) has completed casing, cementing and geophysical logging at its NGT245E and NGT245D wells at the Nooitgedacht Project in South Africa, with gas encountered in both wells during drilling.
The wells, within the company’s 100%-owned ER315 permit in the Free State, will now return to normal reservoir pressure before future testing can begin.
Gas had previously been observed flowing to surface at NGT245E, while gas was also detected in NGT245D before cementing.
Both wells are targeting faulting and associated fractures within the Ventersdorp and Witwatersrand formations, with the program designed to assess reservoir deliverability and gather further information on helium and methane concentrations.
Wells completed on time and budget
D3 Energy’s drilling campaign had been completed safely, on time and on budget despite a brief weather delay.
Managing director and CEO David Casey said encountering gas in both wells was encouraging given the extremely low reservoir pressures in the Nooitgedacht area.
“It’s pleasing to have completed another drilling programme safely on time and on budget, and even more pleasing to have encountered gas in both wells while drilling,” Casey said.
He cautioned that reservoir pressures would need time to recover from drilling and completion activities before meaningful testing could take place.
Nooitgedacht part of larger Free State position
D3 holds a 479,409-acre land position across South Africa’s Free State Province, covering ER315, PR016 and several additional exploration applications and permits.
The flagship ER315 permit has returned independently verified helium concentrations of up to 8% and is also the subject of a Production Right Application currently being assessed by South Africa’s Petroleum Agency SA.
The initial Production Right Application area covers around 15% of ER315 and about 9% of D3’s broader exploration acreage, leaving substantial additional ground available for future appraisal and development.
Nooitgedacht location within ER315
Next steps
D3 Energy’s immediate focus will be on allowing reservoir pressure at NGT245E and NGT245D to normalise before commencing further testing.
That work is expected to assess the deliverability of the targeted fracture systems and provide additional data on helium and methane concentrations.
In parallel, the company continues to advance ER315 toward development while its Production Right Application remains under assessment.