Whitebark Energy Limited (ASX:WBE) has increased clean-up flow rates to about 180 barrels of oil equivalent per day following completion of hydraulic fracture stimulation operations at the Rex-4 development well within its 100 per cent owned Wizard Lake field in Alberta, Canada.

Prior to bringing Rex-4 online, Wizard Lake’s production was about 50 barrels a day, while the development is targeting post-clean up production rates of 300 barrels and associated gas.

The Rex-4 well continues ‘cleaning-up’ the injected fracture stimulation fluid on a controlled flow of approximately 500 barrels of fluid per day, increased from an initial 230 barrels of fluid last November.

Oil-cut in the recovered ‘load fluid’ is steadily increasing and is now at about 15 per cent, in line with expectations.

The company expects stabilised initial oil production to be achieved within the next weeks.

Preparations are continuing for additional Wizard Lake wells (Rex-5 through Rex-8) to address existing Proved (1P) Reserves calculated at 2.3 million barrels of oil equivalent.

Whitebark Interim CEO Dr Simon Brealey said Rex-4 continued to perform increasingly well, as modelled.

He continued: “It’s been a difficult period over Christmas and New Year with temperatures getting down into the minus 40’s Celsius.

“However, our team have done an outstanding job in keeping operations going, not only dealing with the Rex-4 start-up but also bringing Rex-3 back on line after a pump failure. A remarkable effort and as temperatures climb things should get easier.”