UK-based Prospex Energy has announced the restart of gas production from the Viura-1B well in the Viura field, located in the La Rioja province of northern Spain.
The well, operated by HEYCO Energía Iberia, resumed operations and gradually increased output to 120,000 cubic metres per day (m³/d) by 20 October.
The ongoing start-up phase is expected to reach a production plateau of 180,000m³/d within the week.
Prospex holds a 7.24 per cent stake in the Viura field and is currently receiving 14.47 per cent of production income until its initial investment of around £8 million (US$10.72 million), plus interest, is recovered.
Prospex CEO Mark Routh said: “The resumption of production from the Viura field is very welcome news.
“The operator safely removed the severed wireline cable from the well with no injuries or safety incidents, enabling recommencement of gas production from the well.
“Prospex’s share of production from Viura represents the largest contribution to the company’s portfolio of net production with the associated reinstatement of cash flow being particularly welcome news.”
Discovered in 2010 and developed over the following decade, Viura is one of only two onshore gas-producing fields in Spain.
The Viura-1B well was shut down in April 2025 due to a tubing leak, which was resolved by replacing production tubing and rectifying complications in pressure control equipment.
Tests conducted in August encountered an equipment issue in downhole wireline logging tools, leading to the cutting and temporary abandonment of the wireline cable to maintain well and site safety.
Since initial operations began in December 2024, the well has produced 30.2 million standard cubic metres (scm) of natural gas, equivalent to 1.1 billion cubic feet (bcf), with 154 million cubic feet (mcf) attributed to Prospex.
The operator estimates the field’s recoverable reserves at 90bcf, though further reservoir evaluations may support upward revisions.
Earlier this year, Prospex signed a binding agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Tarba Energía, expanding its interests in European gas assets.
The deal included the purchase of Warrego Energy’s entire shareholding in Tarba, which owns stakes in the El Romeral production concessions and related gas-to-power plants in southern Spain.