Botala Energy Gas Flow Jumps to 28 Mscf/day as Water Falls, Eyeing 70 GJ Target
Key Takeaways
- Gas flow at Pitse Pilot 3.5B has climbed from about 1.5 Mscf/day to about 28 Mscf/day (~30 GJ/day), with brief readings above 30 Mscf/day.
- Water production has fallen about 25%, from roughly 320 to 240 barrels/day, while the water level above the Serowe seam dropped from about 60m to about 10m.
- Botala calls the results interim, and the rates have not yet been demonstrated as stabilised production.
- The company's sustained appraisal benchmark is 70 GJ/day, more than double the current rate, and it is central to de-risking the Serowe CBM Project.
- Stabilised flow rates, gas composition testing and the handover of data to certifier Sproule are the next milestones to watch.
Pitse Pilot 3.5B gas flow lifts to 28 Mscf/day as water falls
Gas flow at the Pitse Pilot 3.5B well in Botswana has risen from approximately 1.5 Mscf/day to approximately 28 Mscf/day (~30 GJ/day), Botala Energy reported on 13 October 2026. The well, which targets coal bed methane (gas held within coal seams), has produced gas continuously since 20 September 2026.
Brief readings exceeded 30 Mscf/day. The company describes the results as “encouraging interim progress” rather than stabilised production, and that caveat matters. The flow rates were measured under prevailing operating conditions and have not yet been demonstrated as stabilised production rates.
For investors, the well is moving toward the company’s previously stated appraisal benchmark of a sustained 70 GJ/day, a figure relevant to de-risking the Serowe CBM Project. The current rate is roughly 30 GJ/day under existing well settings.
Kris Martinick, Chief Executive Officer, Botala Energy
“The most encouraging development at well 3.5B is that gas production is increasing while water production is declining…”
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Gas up, water down: what the data shows
Since sustained gas production began, gas has climbed while water output has eased. That pairing is the core of the update, and the table below sets out the figures stated in the announcement.
| Metric | At start of sustained production | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas flow | ~**1.5 Mscf/day** | ~**28 Mscf/day** | Increase |
| Water production | ~**320 barrels/day** | **240 barrels/day** | ~**25%** decline |
| Water level above Serowe coal seam | ~**60m** | ~**10m** | Lowered |
The company also reported a choke increase on 6 October 2026, from 16/64″ to 18/64″, together with an adjustment to the separator throttle. That produced an immediate increase in gas production.
The announcement includes a chart of water and gas flow for 19 to 30 September 2026. This article relies on the body-text figures only.
Why dewatering matters for coal bed methane
Coal bed methane wells work differently from conventional gas wells. Production depends on lowering reservoir pressure enough to release gas held within the coal, and removing water is how that pressure drops.
Here, the water level remains about 10m above the 13m-thick Serowe coal seam, yet gas is already flowing. The company says the trend of rising gas and falling water is consistent with the expected development of a coal bed methane well, following the July stimulation program.
One assumption sits behind the energy figures. The GJ/day equivalents use an assumed 1.055 GJ per thousand standard cubic feet, pending gas composition and calorific-value testing, so actual energy production may differ.
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Controlled approach and next steps
Botala is lowering the water level at approximately 2m per day, while adjusting surface gas flow settings progressively in response to observed well performance. The approach is intended to minimise risks such as the mobilisation of coal fines or sand, and to avoid excessive drawdown that could compromise well productivity.
The company’s immediate priorities are to:
- Continue lowering reservoir pressure through controlled dewatering.
- Progressively adjust gas flow settings and monitor reservoir response.
- Establish reliable stabilised gas flow rates and confirm gas composition.
- Provide the resulting production and reservoir data to independent resource certifier Sproule for consideration in future resource and reserves assessments.
Key well facts from the announcement:
- 100% working interest
- Mining Licence ML-52
- Serowe seam encountered at 377m
- 2 inch choke on the wellhead
The takeaway is straightforward. The well is showing the pattern a CBM well is expected to show, but the 70 GJ/day sustained benchmark has not yet been demonstrated. Further dewatering and controlled flow testing remain underway, and stabilised rates are what you should watch for next.
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