IGas on March 11 announced an update regarding the SR-01 well at Springs Road in North Nottinghamshire.

In addition to the company’s announcement on Feb. 15, IGAS has now encountered a hydrocarbon-bearing shale sequence of over 250 meters, including the upper and lower Bowland Shale.  Significant gas indications were observed throughout the shale section and additionally within sands in the Millstone Grit sequence.   

"I am delighted to report that we have recovered high-quality hydrocarbon bearing cores at our Springs Road site,” said CEO Stephen Bowler. “The data gathered to date shows that there are significant prospective resources in our East Midlands acreage and is another important step for the UK onshore industry.

“There is the potential for the gas beneath our feet to contribute materially to the UK energy needs. Gas is important for our energy requirements, not least because over 80% of the homes across the country are heated by gas. These results come at a time when we are importing more and more gas from overseas and could stimulate investment in the East Midlands basin as well as improving the country's balance of payments."

A video showing some recovered core from the well effervescing gas when immersed in water can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/dnZDrTLWiyQ and on the website at www.igasplc.com.

IGAS has now completed this phase of data acquisition which included the recovery of approximately 150m of shale core and an extensive wireline logging program across the Millstone Grit, and Upper and Lower Bowland Shale. Petrophysical and core analysis is currently being conducted, which will give the company further insight into the resource potential and shale characterization that will be utilized for future appraisal and development of the wider East Midlands area.

IGAS says it will give a further update following the completion of the majority of the analysis in Q2.

Having encountered both primary and secondary targets on prognosis the company is now drilling into the tertiary target, to prove up the potential for multiple hydrocarbon-bearing horizons within the Gainsborough Trough.

The rate of drilling at Springs Road has been quicker than anticipated, building on what it has learned and operating efficiencies from Tinker Lane.

The analysis of the Tinker Lane core samples is still ongoing.