Botala Energy (ASX:BTE) said the Pitse Pilot's central production 3.5B well at the Serowe coal bed methane (CBM) project in Botswana achieved its first continuous gas flare over Sunday and Monday, sustaining gas flow for over 30 hours with the flow rate of the well steadily increasing, according to a Friday Australian bourse filing.

Gas flow began earlier in the dewatering process than expected, with the water level still around 60 meters above the coal seam compared to the anticipated around 20 meters level, the company said. Dewatering has been slowed to bring the well on in a controlled and careful manner to protect the stimulated coal, the filing added.

The oil and gas company's shares declined past 1% in recent trading on Friday.