Santos said it had commenced routine maintenance activates at the coal seam gas (CSG) pilot wells at Dewhurst South in the Pilliga to "ensure the ongoing efficient and safe operation of the wells".

Local residents noticed a convoy of trucks, including a workover rig, moving through the forest on Monday afternoon.

Three men held the convoy up for about an hour by sitting on the road, but left when police were called.

Coonabarabran protester Brett Sanders-Hopkinson said eight people took part in a protest organised at short notice.

"This is just the beginning of stopping Santos' work we'll be more organised now that we know activities in the Pilliga forest have resumed," Mr Sanders-Hopkinson said.

"Our protest today is a tiny taste of what Santos can expect at every step in its efforts to establish the CSG industry in our region."

Santos general manager of energy NSW, Peter Mitchley said the protesters activities "had absolutely no impact on Santos operations".

Mr Sanders-Hopkinson said the necessity of maintenance suggests the ongoing integrity of CSG wells cannot be assured.

"CSG wells require ongoing maintenance due to well casing corrosion or routine malfunction of pumps," he said.

"The activities undertaken by these workover rigs indicate the ongoing risks inherent in the CSG industry."

Santos said routine maintenance was an important part of the company's operations and at all times "uses the best engineering techniques to ensure natural gas is extracted safely without harm to the surrounding environment".

Mr Mitchley said the maintenance would be carried out over the next four weeks but didn't say how often routine maintenance was conducted.

"As with almost all equipment used in workplaces and even homes, routine maintenance ensures efficient and safe operation and ongoing longevity and as such is an important part of our work," Mr Mitchley said.

"All farmers in this area would be familiar with the need to undertake routine maintenance on their bores."

Coona Residents Against CSG spokesman Peter Small said Santos' actions "fly in the face" of the gas-free celebration held in Narrabri on Sunday.

"Santos is rubbing our face in it by sending the trucks in one day later," Mr Small said.

He said the maintenance crew brought all their own supplies and were camping on private land.

"Where's the economic benefit to hotels, restaurants and businesses? None of the crew will spend any of their money here. They've come from out of state," he said.

"Where's our local employment? Where's the money coming back into community? We might get the odd little sponsorship but that's it.

"It will be the same if they get full approval fly-in fly-out workers and we won't see any of the money."