gas in the elang-plover, gas in sandstone abov, page-72

Correct Ortstock.

Gas in place (and indeed porosity) isn't much good without permeability that will allow productive flow. Tight, or very low permeability rock, isn't going to flow at commercial rates.

A good rig geologist can estimate the permeability by analysing cuttings of the rock carried to surface in the drilling mud. The permeability will depend on the size of the sand grains, the degree of roundness / angularity, level of compaction, cementation and secondary alteration (that may fill the 'pore throats' within the sand grains) restricting flow.

All of MEO's releases have finished with the 'production test if warranted' statement. They'll want to see the geophysical logs and perhaps a series of MDT measurements (which measure permeability over a few centimetres of the reservoir) before making a decision to spend the big bucks in running the production liner and flow testing.

So whilst the initial signs are good, I'm a little disappointed that we haven't cored more of the reservoir - although smaller sub-samples can be collected at the end of the well via 'side-wall cores'. The jury is still out.