doubts over fingal gas drilling

"Doubts over Fingal gas drilling

Posted 2 hours 9 minutes ago

* Map: Fingal 7214

The viability of a north east gas drilling project is in doubt because a mineral exploration company couldn't find enough gas for commercial production.

The Fingal-Dalmayne drill might be abandoned in favour of a project closer to Hobart.

Brisbane-based Pure Energy Resources is spending more than $1 million on exploratory drilling for coal seam gas at Fingal.

The process involves drilling wells into underground coal and pumping out the water which then releases the gas.

The company has released preliminary results showing a variable to low gas content in the two wells, throwing the site's value into doubt.

Pure Energy's Managing Director Steve Beardsall says they will have the final results in three to four months.

"The gas contents are fairly low," Mr Beardsell said.

"We're hoping they're going to pick up over the course of time.

"We'll assess these and decide on our next drilling plan."

Mr Beardsall says the focus could move to tenements in York Fields in the Midlands and closer to Hobart."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/15/2391888.htm?section=business