Stella is the new Athena-YikesStella was discovered in 1979 but was plugged and abandoned due to the well not being commercially viable. For 30 thirty years, the gas field lay dormant until Ithaca acquired the lease. In March 2009, the operator announced it was planning to drill an appraisal well on the field to define Stella's hydrocarbon composition and contact, and if proven successful, a fast-track development plan will be implemented.