D3 Energy (ASX: D3E) has commenced a high-resolution seismic survey at its Nooitgedacht helium exploration project, located within the company’s 100%-owned ER315 permit in the Free State, South Africa.

Building on its recent drilling program, D3 Energy will carry out a high-resolution 2D seismic survey across the Nooitgedacht area. The work will be undertaken by ClearSeis, using modern low-impact nodal seismic acquisition and weight-drop source technology to gather high-quality subsurface data while minimising environmental disturbance. The survey is expected to take two weeks to complete.

The company said the seismic program is designed to refine the structural interpretation of the project area, integrate recent drilling results from NGT245D and NGT245E, and support future well targeting and resource development planning. For an exploration project like Nooitgedacht, that kind of data can help the company better tie together what was seen in the wells with the broader subsurface picture before it moves on to the next stage of field work. D3 Energy said the program is another important step in its strategy to unlock value from its helium and natural gas portfolio.

“The commencement of our seismic programme is yet another important step as we look to build upon our geological model to support conversion of our extensive resource to reserves,” MD and CEO David Casey said.

Earlier this month, D3 Energy reported that both wells it had been drilling reached total depth before operations at Nooitgedacht were temporarily suspended because of adverse weather conditions, which led to the demobilisation of the drilling crew. The company said it expected operations to remain on budget.

Once the crew remobilises, it is expected to run and cement production casing in both NGT245E and NGT245D, followed by drilling out cement plugs and cleaning up each well bore. Subject to those activities being completed, the company expects to begin production testing at NGT245E in the coming weeks. Testing will include flow testing and gas sample compositional analysis, with results to be reported to the market in due course.

D3 Energy previously said gas was observed flowing to surface at NGT245E while drilling, which it described as an encouraging early indication ahead of formal production testing. Both wells are targeting faulting and associated fractures in the Ventersdorp and Witwatersrand formations to assess reservoir deliverability and gather additional data on helium and methane concentrations.

D3E was steady at 33.5c. Market capitalisation was $50.61 million.

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