The onshore hydrocarbon producer, IGas, has encountered signs of shale gas at its Ellesmere Port exploration well in the North West of England.
The company spudded the well last month and reached total depth ahead of schedule two days ago.
IGas said the vertical exploration well encountered a thick section of the coal measure interval as well as a shale sequence, before penetrating the key Dinantian limestone geophysical marker.
The coal measure interval was approximately 800 feet thick and contained several seams.
A spokesman said: “A very significant shale section of approximately 1,400 feet was also drilled. Preliminary analysis suggests both the Sabden Shale and Bowland Shales have been encountered and cores have been acquired across these intervals.
“Significant gas indications were observed across the shale section.
“The well, including the shale section, is being logged and the logs, together with the cores, will be sent away for further detailed analysis. “
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