Strata-X Energy has received notice from the drilling contractor, Webster Drilling, that they have begun drilling the Kuhlig #1 well, the second well in the Company's Lingle Oil Project in the Illinois Basin. The Kuhlig #1 vertical well is a 12 km step-out of the first completed Lingle horizontal well, Burkett 5-34, where peak production rates of 300 barrels of oil per day were achieved. It is anticipated the Kuhlig #1 drilling operations will be completed within ten days including the retrieval of a 60' core and pressure test of the targeted Lingle formation.

The Burkett 5-34 was a "Proof of Concept" well that successfully demonstrated the Lingle can be drilled and completed horizontally and is capable of commercial oil production. Although this first horizontal test accomplished many of the pre-drill goals, Strata-X expects better results from the next horizontal well because it is designed with twice the horizontal leg length and will undergo an improved completion method compared to the Burkett 5-34 well.

Tags: Strata-X Energy Ltd.