Empyrean dismantles Dempsey drill, moves to install 'more appropriately sized' rig

Australian oil and gas development firm Empyrean Energy announced on Wednesday that its partner Sacgasco, the operator of its Dempsey 1-15 well in the Sacramento Basin, was in the process of removing the Paul Graham Drilling Rig 9 from the onshore site to allow room for a "more appropriately sized" rig that would carry out the remainder of the extensive testing program.

Empyrean said the testing was planned to revolve around tubing conveyed perforating equipment that would provide deep "one metre plus" penetration into the multiple gas reservoir zones and would be interfaced with delivery, assembly and running of high pressure, 10,000psi rated completion equipment.

Perforations for the first reservoir test flow were scheduled to take place by the end of October.

Empyrean chief executive Tom Kelly said, "Empyrean is pleased with the progress and planning being undertaken in order for the Dempsey 1-15 well to be tested safely and, if successful, placed into commercial production. This process is underway and the coming weeks will be very exciting as we reach critical stages of the testing program."

As of 0915 BST, shares had dropped 9.81% to 18.15p.