D3 Energy Hits Gas in Both Nooitgedacht Wells Despite Ultra-Low Reservoir Pressure
Key Takeaways
- Gas was encountered in both NGT245 D and NGT245 E while drilling at Nooitgedacht — an unexpected result given the extremely low reservoir pressure at this location, flagged directly by CEO David Casey.
- Production casing has been successfully run and cemented in both wells, with geophysical logging completed, meaning the programme was delivered safely, on time and on budget.
- Both wells are now waiting for reservoir pressure to normalise before formal flow testing can occur — the company has stated the timeline for this is currently unknown.
- The Nooitgedacht wells sit within D3's 100%-owned ER315 permit, which hosts independently verified helium concentrations of up to 8% and certified reserves and contingent resources across a 479,409-acre Free State land position.
- The PR016 Production Right Application continues to progress through PASA assessment, covering approximately 15% of ER315 and 9% of D3's total acreage.
Gas detected in both Nooitgedacht wells as D3 Energy completes casing and cementing
D3 Energy has successfully cased and cemented both NGT245 E and NGT245 D at the Nooitgedacht project within its 100%-owned ER315 permit in the Free State, South Africa. The standout: gas was encountered in both wells while drilling — an unexpected result flagged by CEO David Casey given the extremely low reservoir pressure at this location. The drilling programme was completed safely, on time and on budget following a brief weather delay. For investors, the gas shows reinforce the prospectivity of ER315 and add to D3’s technical data set on helium and methane concentrations across the permit.
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What the drilling results tell investors
The operational milestones from the Nooitgedacht programme provide early technical validation ahead of formal testing:
- Gas detected in NGT245 D ahead of cementing
- Gas observed flowing to surface at NGT245 E while drilling
- Production casing successfully run and cemented in both NGT245 E and NGT245 D
- Geophysical logging completed
- Both wells now awaiting reservoir pressure normalisation ahead of future testing
Both wells are targeting faulting and associated fractures in the Ventersdorp and Witwatersrand formations to assess reservoir deliverability and collect data on helium and methane concentrations. No flow-test or resource results have been disclosed yet. The presence of gas during drilling is an encouraging early indicator, but formal testing will not occur until reservoir pressure stabilises.
David Casey, Managing Director and CEO
“Its pleasing to have completed another drilling programme safely on time and on budget, and even more pleasing to have encountered gas in both wells while drilling, which was unexpected given the extremely low reservoir pressure in this area compared to those used during drilling. Notwithstanding this, and unlike our wells to the south, it will take some time before the impact of drilling and completion operations on the reservoir dissipates and further testing can be undertaken.”
Why helium and natural gas exploration matters
Helium is a critical gas with no synthetic substitute, underpinning industries from medical imaging (MRI machines) to semiconductor manufacturing and space exploration. That scarcity positions helium as a strategic commodity in the energy transition.
Gas detection during drilling is an early-stage positive. It confirms the presence of hydrocarbons in the target formations before formal flow testing occurs. In this case, the extremely low reservoir pressure at Nooitgedacht means testing must wait. Reservoir pressure normalisation refers to the time required for drilling and completion operations to stop affecting the reservoir’s natural pressure state. Low pressure is not a negative result — it is a technical timing factor. What matters is whether the reservoir can deliver commercial flow rates once pressure stabilises. The gas shows in both wells de-risk the target formations ahead of that test.
How Nooitgedacht fits D3’s broader Free State position
The Nooitgedacht wells sit within D3’s flagship ER315 permit, which has delivered independently verified helium concentrations of up to 8% and hosts certified reserves and contingent resources. The company’s South African asset base spans 479,409 acres across the Free State Province:
| Asset | Type | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ER315 | Flagship exploration right (100%-owned) | Independently verified helium concentrations up to 8%; hosts certified reserves and contingent resources |
| PR016 | Production Right Application | Under assessment by PASA; covers approximately 15% of ER315 and 9% of total acreage |
| ER386 | Exploration Right (contiguous with ER315) | Same Virginia Fault structural corridor; broader appraisal and development pipeline |
| Total land position | — | 479,409 acres across the Free State |
The broader portfolio includes Exploration Right Applications ER391, ER392 and ER393, Technical Cooperation Permit TCP273, and Australian permits in the Arckaringa Basin targeting helium and hydrogen. The Nooitgedacht wells add to the technical foundation D3 is building across ER315 as the company advances the asset toward development.
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What happens next
The immediate priority is reservoir pressure normalisation, which will dictate the timeline for testing:
- Both wells are waiting for reservoir pressure to stabilise following drilling and completion operations
- Timing is uncertain, given the extremely low pressure — the company has stated it is unknown how much time will be required
- Future testing will assess reservoir deliverability and helium and methane concentrations
- The PR016 Production Right Application continues to progress through PASA assessment
For investors, the gas shows in both wells strengthen the exploration case for ER315 while D3 continues to advance its flagship asset toward development. The company is building a technical data set across the permit, de-risking the target formations ahead of formal testing. The Nooitgedacht results add another data point to that process.
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