PNG: Total appointed Operator of PRL 15 Joint Venture

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



nterOil Corp has announced that all participants in the PRL 15 Joint Venture have unanimously voted to appoint Total E&P PNG as Operator of the PRL 15 Joint Venture.

Tasmania extends fracking ban for another five years

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



The Tasmanian government will extend its ban on fracking for five years to protect the state's agricultural industry. The decision was announced on Thursday after a review into the mining practice of hydraulic fracturing, a popular method to source coal seam gas.

Australia: INPEX awarded exploration Blocks WA-513-P, WA-514-P offshore Western Australia

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



INPEX announced Tuesday that INPEX Browse, a subsidiary, was awarded exploration permits for Release Areas WA-513-P and WA-514-P. INPEX Browse will hold a 40% participating interest in the Blocks while Santos, the Operator, will hold a 60% participating interest.

Australia: Key Petroleum acquires interests in Canning Basin permits in deal with Pancontinental and FAR

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Key Petroleum has executed a Sale Agreement to acquire Pancontinental Oil & Gas and FAR Limited’s interests in Exploration Permit 104, Retention Lease R1 and Production Licence L15 located in the Canning Basin.

Thailand puts bidding for oil and gas concessions on hold

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Thailand's military government will delay bidding for new oil and gas concessions indefinitely, pending an amendment to a petroleum law, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Tuesday.

China: Searcher Seismic grants BGP exclusive rights to market its multi-client data library in China

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Searcher Seismic has announced a commercial marketing agreement with BGP, a geophysical service company owned by CNPC, which provides BGP with an exclusive right to market the Searcher multi-client 2D and 3D seismic library within China.

New Zealand: Mosman Oil and Gas provides update on flow testing at Crossroads-1

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



AIM-listed Mosman Oil and Gas, the New Zealand and Australia focused oil exploration and development company, has provided an update in respect to operational activity at Crossroads-1. It is expected that the flow testing will continue for up to 60 days.

Australia: Senex Energy announces oil discovery at Martlet North-1 in the Cooper Basin

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Senex Energy has announced a Namur oil discovery at Martlet North-1 on the western flank of the South Australian Cooper Basin. The Martlet North-1 exploration well, in PRL 1481, was designed to evaluate the oil potential of the Namur Sandstone, with a secondary target in the Birkhead Formation.

Australia: AWE provides update on testing at the Senecio-3 well in the onshore Perth Basin

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



AWE Limited, as the Operator of the L1/L2 joint venture, has provided an update on the flow testing program at the Senecio-3 well, in the onshore Perth Basin, Western Australia. The testing program is designed to determine well deliverability from two reservoir zones in the Waitsia gas discovery.

Australia: Beach Energy provides Cooper Basin NTNG exploration update

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Beach Energy has provided an update on the Nappamerri Trough Natural Gas ('NTNG') program in PRLs 33-49 (ex-PEL 218) and ATP 855. The Company has completed the extensive Stage 1 work program, which included 18 exploration wells, with 16 wells fracture stimulated.

Santos holds back on dividend hike as oil slump bites

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Oil and gas producer Santos reported a 6 percent rise in underlying profit for 2014, boosted by liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales from Papua New Guinea, but disappointed with its dividend as it looks to save cash amid an oil price slump.

Australia: AWE begins flow test of Senecio-3 in the onshore Perth Basin

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



AWE as the Operator of the L1/L2 joint venture, has commenced the flow testing program for the Senecio-3 well to further appraise the Waitsia gas discovery in the onshore Perth Basin, Western Australia.

PNG: New Guinea Energy receives government approval for sale of 50% interest in PPL 269 to Santos

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



New Guinea Energy has advised that its wholly-owned subsidiary Kirkland has received notification that the final condition precedent for the sale of its 50% interest in Petroleum Prospecting Licence (PPL) 269 to Barracuda (a subsidiary of Santos) has been met.

Australia: MEO signs Option Agreement for farmout of three permits offshore Australia

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



MEO Australia has executed an Option Agreement with an international exploration company providing the Farminee with an option to farm-in to any of the WA-488-P, AC/P50 and AC/P51 permits.

Timor Leste: Woodside sees slim hope for East Timor LNG this decade

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Woodside Petroleum expressed doubts its Greater Sunrise gas prospect could go ahead this decade, leaving it off a list of growth projects out to 2019 and beyond in its annual results presentation in a bad sign for impoverished East Timor.

New Zealand: TAG Oil records Increasing oil production and Q3 results

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



TAG Oil has reported the third quarter results for fiscal year ending March 31, 2015. The Company achieved operating revenues of $12.28 million during the quarter, and average daily production grew 8% to 1,991 BOE/d (77% oil) compared to 1,845 BOE/d (78% oil) last quarter.

Philippines: Otto Energy completes sale of interest in Galoc oil field to Nido Petroleum

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Otto Energy has announced the sale of Galoc Production Company (GPC) to Nido Petroleum has completed. Final proceeds were received from Nido on 17 February 2015.

Thailand extends bid deadline for energy concessions amid criticism

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Thailand has extended the bid deadline for oil and gas concessions by a month after politicians and activists criticised the contract terms, the country's energy policy committee said on Monday.

New Zealand: Kea Petroleum announces strategic update, including possible sale

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



AIM-listed Kea Petroleum, the oil and gas company focused on New Zealand, has announced that it is launching a review of the strategic options open to the Company with the intention of considering all opportunities for maximising value for shareholders.

PNG: InterOil's Antelope-5 intersects top reservoir higher than predicted

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



InterOil Corp has advised that the Antelope-5 appraisal well in Petroleum Retention License 15, in the Gulf Province of Papua New Guinea, has intersected the top reservoir at 1,534m at a position that was 230m higher than the operator's reference case.

Vietnam: KrisEnergy announces Vietnam Block 105 and Block 120 partner update

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Pursuant to the deed executed between Eni Vietnam, KrisEnergy and Neon Energy in relation to the default and subsequent withdrawal of Neon Energy, an amended investment certificate each for Block 105 and Block 120 has been issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam.

Pakistan: BHP agrees to sell Pakistan gas business

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BHP Billiton has agreed to sell its Pakistan gas business to a local firm, a unit of the Hashoo Group, for an undisclosed sum, the global miner said on Monday.

Pakistan: Jura Energy announces commencement of drilling in the Reti Lease, onshore Pakistan

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Jura Energy Corp has announced that the drilling of the Reti-2 development well has commenced in the Reti Lease, located in the Middle Indus Basin of Pakistan. THe well is expected to increase current gas production from the Reti Lease.

Australia: Altona Energy provides update on Arckaringa Joint Venture

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AIM-listed Altona Energy has announced that Arckaringa Coal Chemical Joint Venture Co, has today received proof of payment relating to the first contribution payment from the Company's joint venture partners Wintask Group and Sino-Aus Energy Group.

Australia: INPEX awarded Northern Territory onshore exploration acreage

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



INPEX has been successful in the provisional award by the Northern Territory Government of onshore acreage - EPNT14-1 - in the Beetaloo Basin.

Indonesia: RH Petrogas receives approval for North Klalin field development in West Papua, Indonesia

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



RH Petrogas has announced that the Plan of Development ('POD') for the North Klalin gas and condensate field in the Kepala Burung PSC ('Basin PSC'), West Papua, Indonesia, has been approved by SKK Migas.

Myanmar: Dolphin Geophysical awarded large 3D seismic contract offshore Myanmar

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Dolphin Geophysical has been awarded and signed a contract for 3D data acquisition and processing of 10,000 sq km with Ophir Energy in Myanmar. The work will commence in Q1 with a vessel already located in the region planned to tow an industry first configuration.

Indonesia: Cooper Energy drilling ahead at Bunian-3 oil development well in South Sumatra

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Cooper Energy has advised that the Bunian-3 oil development well is drilling ahead at 1,015 metres. Bunian-3 is an onshore vertical well in the Sukananti KSO, South Sumatra, Indonesia.

Santos to announce a non-cash impairment charge of approx. $1.6 billion after tax in its 2014 full-year accounts

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Santos has advised that it expects to recognise a non-cash impairment charge of approx. $1.6 billion after tax in its 2014 full-year accounts. The impairment charge reflects the lower oil price environment and is a non-cash accounting adjustment that relates to the historical book value of the company’s assets.

Australia Pacific LNG's first gas reaches Curtis Island

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Australia Pacific LNG has reached a significant milestone with the arrival of first gas from its coal seam gas fields in the Surat Basin to its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility on Curtis Island, near Gladstone, Queensland.

Australia: Hibiscus Petroleum to drill Sea Lion exploration well in VIC/P57, offshore Australia

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Hibiscus’ subsidiary, Carnarvon Hibiscus, will use the Seadrill West Telesto rig to drill the Sea Lion exploration well in VIC/P57, offshore Australia, in June 2015.

Australia: Tap Oil elects not to proceed with Vic/P67 Otway Basin farm-in

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Tap Oil has advised WHL Energy that it has elected not to exercise its option to acquire 10% of the VIC/P67 permit, located in the offshore Otway Basin.

China: CNOOC signs PSCs with SK for two South China Sea blocks

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



CNOOC has signed two production sharing contracts (PSCs) with SK Innovation for Blocks 04/20 and 17/03 in the South China Sea. The two blocks are located in the Pearl River Mouth Basin.

Australia: Searcher and DUG team up on 14,700 km 3D multi-client project

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Searcher Seismic has announced a commercial agreement with DownUnder GeoSolutions to market and license the Monodon Ultracube, which consists of approx. 14,700 km2 3D and 2,000 km 2D reprocessed data in the prospective Northern Carnarvon Basin of the North West Shelf, Western Australia.

Australia: Drillsearch announces wet gas discovery at Ralgnal-1 in PRL 130

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Drillsearch Energy has announced that its Wet Gas joint venture with Beach Energy drilled the Ralgnal-1 exploration well in PRL 130. A DST over the Patchawarra Formation flowed gas to surface at a rate of 5.88 mmscf/d. Test flow rates for condensate are currently under review. The well will be cased and suspended as a new discovery.

China: Sinopec to lead new shale oil research centre

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State energy group Sinopec will head up a new national shale oil research and development centre that has been approved by the National Energy Administration, official paper China Energy News reported on Monday.

Australia: Central Petroleum announces early gas sales from its Palm Valley gas field in Australia's Northern Territory

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Central Petroleum has announced agreement with Power and Water Corp (PWC) for the early sale of gas from its Palm Valley gas field under a Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement executed in September 2012.

Australia: Buru Energy's Sunbeam-1 exploration well in EP 129 disappoints

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Buru Energy has failed to encounter significant hydrocarbons in its Sunbeam 1 well in EP 129. The well will be suspended for possible re-entry and deepening to the underlying Emanuel prospect during the coming dry season.

Australia: Eni acquires 100% ownership of the Blackwood Area of NT/P68 in deal with MEO

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



MEO Australia has elected to withdraw from the Blackwood gas discovery at no cost, transferring that area of NT/P68 to Eni Australia, after assessing that the Blackwood field is too small to underpin development of the Tassie Shoal Methanol Project.

China's deepsea gas find holds over 100 bcm reserves - state media

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



A deepsea natural gas discovery in the northern part of the South China Sea has certified proven reserves exceeding 100 billion cubic metres, making it one of China's biggest offshore finds, Chinese state television reported. CNOOC Ltd announced the discovery last August after the Lingshui 17-2 well tested 56.5 million cubic feet per day.

Australia: Real Energy increases acreage position in Cooper Basin

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Cooper Basin focused oil & gas exploration company Real Energy Corp has been successful in its tender for Queensland Petroleum Land Releases PLR 2014-1-4.

New Zealand: Global Resource Holdings acquires Anadarko's interest in deepwater licence PEP 38451

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Veteran American oil man Randall C. Thompson is taking control again of New Zealand’s sole Deepwater Taranaki Basin lease as Anadarko NZ exits the permit to concentrate on other opportunities in its extensive global exploration portfolio.

Wood Mackenzie: What to watch for APAC upstream sector in 2015

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The fall in oil prices has set the tone for a challenging 2015, says Wood Mackenzie, which will affect exploration and production (E&P) activity across Asia Pacific’s (APAC) entire upstream sector.

Australia: Wood Group Kenny awarded FEED contract on Woodside’s proposed Greater Western Flank Phase 2 development

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Wood Group Kenny (WGK) has secured a contract with Woodside to provide the front end engineering design (FEED) of the flowline system, and associated procurement support, for the proposed Greater Western Flank Phase 2 (GWF-2) development for the North West Shelf (NWS) Project, offshore Western Australia.

Australia/NZ: Mosman Oil and Gas announces operations update

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Mosman Oil and Gas, the New Zealand and Australia focussed oil exploration and development company, has provided an operations update. The Company is preparing to commence its planned and previously announced flow test of the Cobden Limestone at Crossroads-1 in the Petroleum Creek permit, onshore New Zealand.

Australia: INPEX begins development drilling for Ichthys LNG Project

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



INPEX announced Wednesday the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG Project commenced drilling at the Ichthys gas-condensate field, about 200km off the Western Australian coast. The first development well was spudded on February 3 by the Project’s development drilling rig ENSCO-5006.

Australia: Beach Energy shuts in Geoffrey-1 unconventional well after successful flow test

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



JV partner Icon Energy has provided an update on the Stimulation and Flow testing program in ATP 855. Following the successful stimulation and flow testing of Geoffrey-1, the well was recently shut in for extended pressure build up. Geoffery-1 reached a peak flow rate of 1.1 mmscfg.

Australia: Seven Group acquires 13.8 percent of Beach Energy

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Kerry Stokes' Seven Group Holdings has revealed it now owns 13.8 per cent of oil and gas junior Beach Energy, in a move that is certain to fuel speculation about a possible takeover for the group.

China: CNOOC commences production at the Jinzhou 9-3 oil field in Bohai

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CNOOC Limited has announced that its Jinzhou 9-3 comprehensive adjustment project has commenced production. The Jinzhou 9-3 oilfield is located in the North Liaodong Bay in Bohai

China: CNOOC announces its 2015 business strategy and development plan

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



CNOOC Limited has announced its business strategy and development plan for the year 2015. The Company’s net production target for 2015 is in the range of 475 to 495 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), of which production from China and overseas accounts for approx. 67% and 33% respectively.

Indonesia: Total to relinquish Papua exploration block

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French energy company Total has relinquished its South West Bird's Head exploration block in Papua, an official at Indonesia's energy regulator said, without giving a reason.

Australia: Searcher Seismic announces 2015 GroupSeis campaign

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



Searcher Seismic in conjunction with project partner, BGP, has announced the 2015 GroupSeis campaign over the North West Shelf, Western Australia. The GroupSeis concept has been developed by Searcher to provide clients with a turnkey solution for the environmental approval, acquisition and processing of small to medium sized seismic surveys.

Thailand: Pan Orient Energy completes sale of Thailand Concession L53/48 to Sea Oil

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Pan Orient Energy has completed the sale of Thailand Concession L53/48 to Sea Oil. The first of a three well drilling program on Concession L53 is anticipated to commence in approx. two weeks, with the first well targeting the high impact L53-A North Central prospect ('ANC-1').

Australia: Shell shelves plans for Arrow LNG project in Queensland

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Royal Dutch Shell has officially ditched plans for a new $US20 billion-plus ($25.5 billion) liquefied natural gas project in Queensland in a step-up of spending cuts by global majors buckling down for a prolonged downturn in oil prices.

Australia: Origin reports Australia Pacific LNG project 88% complete

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Origin Energy on Friday reported that the Australia Pacific LNG project is 88 per cent complete and on track to deliver first LNG in mid-2015.

Indonesia: BP to hand back two exploration blocks to Indonesia on risk concerns

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



BP has decided to relinquish two exploration blocks to Indonesia - West Aru I and West Aru II - after a survey of the blocks found them to be high risk, the company said on Friday.

Malaysia: Santos acquires interest in offshore deepwater Block R from INPEX and JX Nippon

Otmane El Rhazi from Energy-pedia regional news: Central & SE Asia / Australasia.



INPEX has reached an agreement to transfer 10% of its participating interest in the Deepwater Block R to Santos. Santos has also separately agreed to acquire a 10% participating interest in the Block from JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration, bringing its total participating interest in the Block to 20%.